Page 2721 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 6 June 2012
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MR SPEAKER: We will just hear from the Chief Minister, thank you.
MS GALLAGHER: It will be a dark day when I need Mr Hanson’s help, I tell you. We will all be running for cover.
The projects that could have been over budget and over time would have been the adult mental health unit and the women’s and children’s hospital. But I also remind people that we have changed the scope of those projects within the time of construction. For example—
Mr Seselja: Was the car park over budget?
MS GALLAGHER: No, the car park was not, Mr Seselja. I can hear your quiet inquiry. No, it was not. The project that was funded was for an 1,800-space car park on the southern block side of the Canberra Hospital. If you go and speak to Hindmarsh, they will tell you that they built it on time and on budget. Indeed it came in under budget, from memory, and they were able to put some additional resources elsewhere. With the women’s and children’s, we took some decisions half-way through that project, and that has contributed to the cost. (Time expired.)
Canberra Hospital—birthing centre
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minister for Health and concerns the birth centre at the Canberra Hospital. Minister, I understand the new birth centre, to be opened later this year, will increase the number of birthing rooms from three to five. However, extra midwifery staff have not been provided to match the increase in rooms. Minister, is the increase in birthing rooms intended to increase the number of women who can birth there with that midwifery model, and, if yes, how will it do that, given there is no increase in staff?
MS GALLAGHER: I am sorry, Mr Speaker, because of Mr Seselja and Mr Smyth, I could not hear the question that Ms Bresnan asked. If you could just repeat the last part, Ms Bresnan.
MR SPEAKER: We will just have the question again from Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, is the increase in birthing rooms intended to increase the number of women who can birth there with that midwifery model, and, if yes, how will it do that, given there is no increase in staff?
MS GALLAGHER: My understanding of that is that there is some extra money going in for bringing on the services in the women’s and children’s hospital and to start a continuity of care program at Calvary, on the north side, which has been a priority for me because they actually do not have a service like Canberra Hospital does.
In relation to the birthing centre and the number of suites, it is expected that we will be able to deliver more babies there from the fact that the birth centre will not be fully
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