Page 5506 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017

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Health—waiting times
(Question No 776)

Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, upon notice, on 27 October 2017:

(1) In relation to the answer to question on notice No E17-178, noting the increasing trend in wait times longer than clinically recommended as at the end of each month January to May 2017, what strategies are in place to deal with the increasing trend.

(2) What analysis has been done as to the reasons for the increasing trend.

(3) What were the numbers as at the end of (a) June 2017, (b) July 2017, (c) August 2017 and (d) September 2017.

Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1. The ACT Elective Surgical Management Plan 2017-2018 has been developed to reduce the total number of long wait patients over the 2017-18 financial year.

2. The increasing trend of long wait patients during the second half of last financial year has been attributed to the following contributing factors:

a. Ongoing increases in demand for both emergency and elective surgery.

b. While Calvary Public Hospital Bruce has met overall surgical activity targets, some specific surgical specialty targets have not been met, leading to the wait list increasing at specialty level.

c. Scheduled maintenance within operating theatres, resulting in a number of theatres being unavailable for surgery at Canberra Hospital and Health Services for short periods.

3.

(a). June 2017 was 424

(b). July 2017 was 442*

(c). August 2017 was 517* and

(d). September 2017 was 505*

* The data for 2017-18 is preliminary and subject to change due to validation processes and changes in clinical urgency and ready for care status.

Health—policy
(Question No 777)

Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, upon notice, on 27 October 2017:

In relation to the answer to question on notice No E17-537, has the Government made a decision on what will be encompassed by the Preventative Health Strategy; if not, (a) what is the status of this decision-making, (b) when will the strategy be finalised and (c) when will the strategy be released publicly; if so, (a) what does the strategy cover,

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