Page 1757 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 7 June 2016
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MR CORBELL: We deliver quality maternity services as a jurisdiction. That is recognised by the increase in volumes that we see, particularly in the public hospital sector. So we see more—
Mrs Jones interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Jones. You have asked your question.
MR CORBELL: We are seeing more women, as a percentage, using public hospital maternity services than private hospital maternity services. So in many respects that does highlight a strong level of confidence in the system. To the extent that Mrs Jones and this report that she refers to identify concerns, those are matters that we have well-established processes to address. If Mrs Jones wishes to have some more detail around the specifics of these issues, I would be very happy to extend the offer of a briefing to her.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: I thank the minister for that. Minister, if Canberra births are generally no more complex than in other states and territories, why do overnight patient women giving birth in Canberra also have higher rates of complication after childbirth than women elsewhere?
MR CORBELL: Again, I refer Mrs Jones to my previous answer.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, are the ongoing concerns about a toxic culture in the TCH obstetrics department having any impact on clinical outcomes?
MR CORBELL: It is demonstrably not the case that there has been any impact on clinical outcomes. We have seen some very significant improvements in the workplace culture and in collaboration between senior and junior doctors at the obstetrics department. The clinical team have been working extremely hard to address the issues that were of concern in the past couple of years. I am very pleased to say that we are seeing significant improvements as a result. That is due to decisions taken to appoint new clinical leaders in a number of areas, to focus on closer collaboration between senior and junior doctors in the obstetrics department, and, finally, to work closely with the college in addressing the issues of concern that they have raised.
Certainly, the advice I have received highlights a high level of confidence from the college, as the accrediting body, that the issues that they identified as being of concern in the obstetrics department are being addressed. That is not me saying that; that is the college of obstetricians and gynaecologists, as the accrediting body looking at these matters. That gives me a high level of confidence that we are on the right track. There is more work to be done; there is no doubt about that. This is a long-term exercise. But the advice we have from the independent accrediting body is that we are responding appropriately and addressing the issues that were of concern to them in their report a number of years ago.
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