Page 3241 - Week 10 - Thursday, 25 September 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
I would also say that we have the best nursing ratios in the country. You will not find a better nurse-patient ratio in any jurisdiction in the country than the one we have at Canberra Hospital.
The concerns you raise, as I understand it, relate to the quality of care that was provided, and I think that those issues need to be investigated, if they have not been already.
In terms of the case that was brought to the Assembly yesterday, I would ask that members consider the need to bring individual cases to the Assembly without the opportunity to have the feedback or input of the other side of these stories; they are not always as clear as some might like it to be. In the case that was brought to this Assembly yesterday, as I say, I have not taken the practice of coming in and speaking about individual cases in the Assembly, but considering that they are now being considered to be raised here, I do think that I need to respond.
There is a difference of views in the response that has been provided from the staff who cared for that patient over the time that they were in hospital. I think that will need to be looked at in respect of any further discussions. Nursing staff met with the patient and his family extensively on the ward during his stay to discuss concerns that were raised by the family. These conversations are well documented in the medical records. During these conversations, the family expressed concern about the treatment, and staff did attempt to address the concerns if they were raised. In addition, the family were talked through the complaints process and asked if they would like to make a formal complaint, on a number of occasions, as was their right.
Mr Hanson: Point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Point of order, Mr Hanson. Stop the clock, please.
Mr Hanson: The question asked was about a specific case and about the systemic issues. The Chief Minister is going directly to an individual case that was relevant to the question yesterday. I am just wondering whether it is relevant in this case.
MADAM SPEAKER: I think that the Chief Minister has addressed some of the issues. She did talk about staff ratios and how they compare to other hospitals. And I think that, that having been answered, it is within the bounds of the Chief Minister’s capacity to answer other issues that were touched upon.
MS GALLAGHER: Over the course of the weekend in question, the clinical nurse consultant, who is the senior nurse on the ward, was on leave. However, they did return and met with the family shortly after. The CNC undertook a number of actions to address the concerns the family had raised, including around the availability of bariatric equipment during the stay. The meeting with the CNC occurred as soon as the CNC arrived back at work. Prior to this, concerns were being addressed by nursing staff on the ward.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video