Page 1174 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2016
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Questions without notice
Hospitals—staff safety
MR HANSON: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, it is reported in the Canberra Times today that 56 ACT Health professionals have written to you concerning physical violence and unsafe practices on one Canberra hospital ward. The petition is reported to say that violence and aggression were “a regular feature on the ward”. A report referred to in the Canberra Times refers to staff being punched in the face and “safety breaches and violence” at numerous locations, including the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Minister, will you make public the petition delivered to you by the 56 health professionals concerning violence and unsafe practices in our hospitals?
MR CORBELL: No. I am happy to disclose the terms of it and make that available, but not the identities of the staff.
Madam Speaker, this is a matter that I treat seriously. I met with the ANF about this matter about two weeks ago. Regrettably, it relates to the behaviour of a difficult healthcare consumer with complex behaviours on a ward. I am pleased to say that ACT Health management have worked with the union, nurses and other staff, to resolve the behaviours—the challenging and difficult behaviours—of a complex patient.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, beyond the signatures or identities of individuals, will you make public the report referred to in the Canberra Times which reveals the extent of the physical violence and unsafe practices in ACT Health?
MR CORBELL: Could I ask Mr Hanson to repeat the question.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, could you repeat the question, please?
MR HANSON: Will you make public the report—I understand that a report has been made for you, referred to in the Canberra Times, that explains the detail of what has occurred—minus the detail that might identify Health staff?
MR CORBELL: There is no report.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, can you clarify whether all these complaints refer to only one patient?
MR CORBELL: There are two issues at play, Madam Speaker, and I thank Ms Lawder for the question. There was a representation made to me by a number of ACT Health employees—nurses and others. It was the so-called petition document. That related to the behaviours and conduct of a single patient on a single ward. That
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