Page 3361 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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In addition, there is detailed planning and stocking of the particular equipment required, because each of those different categories requires a different level of protective equipment, including not just PPE but in some cases special breathing equipment as well, and including an isolation pod should that be required. All of that planning is either in place or currently underway.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, thanks for the information. Further, can you advise of any training that has been conducted and the status of any supplies of equipment such as PPE, decontamination equipment and, indeed, ebola treatment medicines that we have in stock?
MS GALLAGHER: In terms of the training that is underway, I would start by saying that, when I have spoken with officials around this, there is acknowledgement that staff are trained in the management of infectious diseases as a rule of thumb. Yes, certainly ebola and some of the possibilities for transmission require further education and awareness, but as a general rule health professionals are highly trained in terms of management of infectious diseases. The work that is underway in terms of the operational plan—and there was an exercise scenario held at the Canberra Hospital last week to test some of those arrangements—either is being done or, if areas of gaps were identified, is being addressed through appropriate training and education.
In the case of stocking of PPE and other equipment that is required, there are good stores of that equipment required at this point in time, although, as I said, there is some planning underway, particularly around isolating a patient who perhaps might need to travel from, say, the Canberra Airport to the hospital and how to transport them safely. That is also underway.
In terms of medication, this is an area where this is being dealt with, obviously, nationally, in terms of access to appropriate medications through the chief health officers network.
I am very confident that if a case presented to the ACT and needed to be treated here, all the necessary planning, medications and PPE are in place, as is a specially identified room within the Canberra Hospital for treatment purposes.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, what safeguards are in place for our medical professionals in the event of a case of ebola in Canberra?
MS GALLAGHER: This goes, I think, to the previous question in terms of education and awareness and the provision of appropriate equipment. All of that is being done and, in fact, health professionals are designing those responses. It is being consulted on at the operational level. It is then being tested. Work has been done across the Ambulance Service and the health service to make sure that those arrangements are in place. Again, it is an area where we acknowledge that staff, although highly trained,
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