Page 273 - Week 01 - Thursday, 12 February 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, what are you doing to address the chronic level of patient dissatisfaction in our hospital?
MR CORBELL: It was interesting to hear the President of the AMA on this question as well. The President of the AMA made some interesting observations which I think members opposite should reflect upon. Our hospital staff are very busy. They have demanding and at times difficult jobs, but they are providing a very high quality of care. That is reflected in the various measures reported on in the Productivity Commission report.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, I will ask the same question because you did not answer it last time. What are you doing to address the chronic levels of patient dissatisfaction in our hospital?
MR CORBELL: I could highlight a very broad range of things that I, on behalf of the government, am doing in relation to improving health services. If satisfaction is driven by improvements in health services, let us look at the extra beds that are going into the emergency department.
Mr Hanson: If it is driven by that then you are failing.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hanson! You have asked the question; let us hear the answer.
MR CORBELL: Let us look at the fact that we have the lowest level of elective surgery waiting since 2004. Let us look at the fact that for the last two years waiting times in the emergency departments have improved. Let us look at the fact that we have some of the best public dental health outcomes in the country. Let us look at the fact that we have the lowest level of readmission in the country.
If a measure of patient satisfaction and what steps I am taking to address it are directly linked to the investment we are making in public health services, it is very clear that we are making that investment. And that stands in marked contrast to the Liberal Party that simply want to ask people to pay more for their health services. That is the Liberal Party’s response on health: ask people to pay more to go and see a doctor. It is no wonder that public health patients are deeply dissatisfied with the Liberal Party.
Mr Smyth: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order, Mr Smyth.
Mr Smyth: Under standing order 118(a) the answer must be concise and directly relevant to the subject matter. The minister has not addressed the levels of dissatisfaction, and I ask you to bring him to order.
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