Page 802 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Health Directorate—data integrity
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, the Director-General of the Health Directorate advised the Auditor-General by phone on 7 September 2016 and in writing on 8 September 2016 about her concerns for the integrity of the Health Directorate’s data. The caretaker period began at midnight on 8 September 2016. Minister, did the Health Directorate advise Mr Corbell or you about its concerns for the integrity of its data before the caretaker period? If so, when did it do so?
MS FITZHARRIS: As I have indicated in the previous sitting and subsequently at annual report hearings, the Health Directorate did advise the then minister for health, Minister Corbell, and me, as assistant health minister, that there were concerns around some of the data. That had also been aired publicly regarding the delayed submission of the quarterly reports. In terms of specific dates, I will check the record and report back to the Assembly.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, were Mr Barr or the Chief Minister’s directorate advised of the concerns about the integrity of the Health Directorate’s data before the caretaker period? If so, when was they advised?
MS FITZHARRIS: As I indicated, it was publicly known that there were concerns with the quarterly report, and I assume, of course, that the Chief Minister and the directorate were aware. In terms of formal notification, I will again check the record and report back to the Assembly.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, why did you take until February 2017 to advise the Assembly of problems with health data?
MS FITZHARRIS: As I indicated in the last sitting, it was publicly known and recognised on production of the health quarterly reports for the 2015-16 year that there had been difficulties with that data. What I was not aware of until my return from leave on 6 February, as I have repeated in the chamber on multiple occasions, was that there were broader issues that we needed to consider. Importantly, immediately I commissioned a system-wide review of ACT health data. That is underway, and I look forward to reporting to the Assembly next week on the terms of reference for that review.
ACT Ambulance Service—response times
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the minister for emergency services. Minister, a recent Productivity Commission report on government services notes that the ACT Ambulance Service has the third-highest turnover of staff nationally at almost four per cent. The report also notes that response times are currently slower compared to the 2015-16 financial year. Minister, why have ambulance response times worsened?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video