Page 3977 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 September 2017
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MR STEEL: Minister, how does the government recognise the sports leaders and community champions who do so much to promote inclusion, participation and excellence in sport and recreation?
MS BERRY: As members will know, the government last year held its inaugural CBR sport awards. More than 300 people came out to recognise our best, including Mr Milligan, who assured me that he was having a wonderful time and that it was a great event. I am sure that it will be a wonderful event again this year.
Of course, the success of that initiative really does depend on the community. Last year it responded amazingly in turning up and also with 40 nominations and a further four inductees into the ACT Sports Hall of Fame. It is important that we recognise the countless contributions to community sport and recreation which happen every day of the week in Canberra. I am sure that every member of the Assembly has a connection of some sort with local clubs in their neighbourhoods. It is important that each of us gives due recognition to the people who do so much for inclusion, health, equity and good fun in sports across the ACT.
Canberra Hospital—bed occupancy rates
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. I refer to her answer to question on notice 358, which stated that the Canberra Hospital was over its 90 per cent optimum capacity every day between 1 July and 10 September this year. Minister, why was the Canberra Hospital over its 90 per cent optimum capacity every day during that period?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mrs Dunne for the question. As has been seen both in the ACT and nationally, it has been a very busy time for the hospital. Increases in presentations have obviously had an impact on occupancy. But I can assure the chamber, and indeed those opposite, and the broader community that people continued to receive excellent, high quality care at Canberra Hospital over that period.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, how often has the hospital been at 100 per cent capacity this winter, requiring patients being placed in beds in corridors rather than in wards?
MS FITZHARRIS: It is not always a measure around occupancy, depending on whether or not someone has perhaps been waiting temporarily in a place other than a ward or in a particular space in the emergency department. I will take the specifics of the question on notice.
MS LEE: Minister, is the Canberra Hospital still at over 90 per cent capacity today?
MS FITZHARRIS: I am not sure as at today. As members would be aware, it changes very frequently because the hospital is a very busy place. In general, I cannot comment on that question right now, at 20 minutes past three. If the opposition wished to know the status of the occupancy rate in the hospital, I would be happy to provide the opposition, on notice, information on how many patients our terrific staff at Canberra Hospital have been seeing today, 20 September, and indeed what the occupancy level is for 20Â September once 20 September has concluded.
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