Page 2940 - Week 09 - Thursday, 18 September 2014
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After escalation 3, if there has not been a noticeable change in the pressure that is being experienced in the hospital, then the hospital would move to what is known as code yellow.
Mrs Jones: How often?
MS GALLAGHER: I do not have that exact detail in front of me but in the last three to four weeks I would expect that it has been at level 3 escalation for the majority of that time.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, what are the negative impacts on patients, including impacts on day services, when surge capacity and level 3 or higher escalation is implemented?
MS GALLAGHER: The hospital strives to make sure that the impact on patients is minimised. Certainly the impact on staff is felt because staff are busier, and areas that would not normally be used out of hours for bed capacity are being used out of hours. Some will argue that is more in line with moving to a 24/7 operation at a hospital, where you are utilising space that is not used between the hours of nine and five. So there are arguments in support of using that space.
But in terms of how it is felt, I would see that staff are most affected because it brings into play a whole range of extra activity for staff in the facility, whether it be management or staff on the floor. In terms of patients—and we do keep an eye on this—the impact is minimised. It may be that there are more moves around the hospital at certain times for particular patients, but I have not noticed any increase in negative feedback from patients in the last three to four weeks. And you do get it from time to time when the hospital is busy and people get cranky. I have not had any of that in the last three or four weeks, and I must again credit the staff for managing this very actively and very conscientiously with a view to minimising impacts on patients.
MR HANSON: Minister, is this crisis at the Canberra Hospital your legacy after eight years as minister?
MS GALLAGHER: Despite your continuing to use the word “crisis”, there is no crisis at the Canberra Hospital. I think you need to take your job seriously, Mr Hanson. If you go out and talk up a crisis that is not true, all you do is perpetuate worry in the community. We know this. We knew it when Mr Smyth used to carry on about ambulance bypass all the time and get on the radio and crow about that.
Mr Coe: You just told people not to go to hospital.
MS GALLAGHER: No, I did not, Mr Coe, so get your facts straight.
MADAM SPEAKER: Might I again remind people of standing order 42. Chief Minister, direct your comments to the chair and do not respond to Mr Coe or anyone else’s interjections.
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