Page 1661 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 13 May 2015
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A strategic level model of care was developed from this process. In addition, we asked Associate Professor Poulos to review the projected service activity data for rehabilitation and care services, the model of care proposed for mental health services to be incorporated in UCPH and the outcomes of the palliative care strategy and plan that were being developed at the time. It is from this comprehensive, independent and expert review of demand and service delivery models at UCPH that the bed mix at UCPH has been determined. Having again reviewed demand predictions, type and mix of 200 beds for the subacute facility, the model of care was concluded.
Following that work, the government have gone out with public consultation on the models of care and the bed capacity numbers for the University of Canberra public hospital. Nearly a year ago we released the service delivery plan for public consultation. On page 8 of that plan the document is clear. It identifies that the new facility will comprise 140 beds, plus outpatient day and ambulatory services. That was a year ago, Madam Speaker. Where was the Leader of the Opposition a year ago?
If he is so outraged by what he alleges, falsely, is a cut in beds at the University of Canberra hospital, why did he not reply or make any comment when the service delivery plan was released a year ago, when it was made very clear what the number of beds would be? Or, Madam Speaker, why did he not make some comment when the then Chief Minister, in answering a question in February last year, indicated that the hospital will comprise 140 overnight inpatient beds and 75 day places? That was on 26 February last year, three months before the service delivery plan was released for public comment. The health minister, over a year ago, was saying 140 overnight beds and 75 day beds.
Or why was he not saying something back on 26 March 2013, when the health minister made clear that, based on current service planning, there would be up to 200 beds, with a mix of overnight and day beds. That was made clear in my predecessor’s answer—Minister Gallagher’s answer—to Mr Hanson’s question on notice taken during the annual reports hearings way back on 26 March 2013.
So the assertion from the Leader of the Opposition is simply false; it is simply false. His argument is that there were going to be 200 overnight beds and now there are not. Go back and look at the history. Go back and have a look at what we released in the service delivery plan in June last year: 140 beds and 75 day places. Go back and see what Minister Gallagher said in February last year: 140 beds and 75 day places. Go back to 2013 and see what Minister Gallagher said to Mr Hanson directly in answer to a question he asked during annual reports hearings, which made clear that there would be a mixture of overnight beds and day places—at that point in time, 160 overnight beds and the balance being day places.
It has always been the case, Madam Speaker. It has always consistently and unequivocally been the situation that the University of Canberra public hospital will be a mix of overnight and day beds. It has always been the case and it has never been suggested otherwise. It has never been suggested otherwise. This is a complete straw man on the part of Mr Hanson. He is constructing an argument based on a falsehood. You would expect that, as shadow minister for health, he would do his research.
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