Page 3016 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 15 August 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
and rotation of the registrars will be undertaken by the two new directors of training. I can also confirm that one of the previous directors of training was involved in the interview process and interview panel when interviews were undertaken. The panel also included an experienced, longstanding staff specialist radiologist, with both involved in the decisions regarding recruitment. The trainees were also offered interview practice and resume development by the medical support, credentialing, education and training unit.
More broadly, in discussing the medical imaging department at the Canberra Hospital today, it is also important for me to outline the significant improvements that have been made in recent years that have led to increased access to medical imaging and a reduction in wait times for patients. I am very pleased to say that there is currently no waitlist for children to have MRI scans under a general anaesthetic and for breast imaging modalities. Medical imaging at Canberra Hospital has also continued to improve wait times for inpatient, emergency and outpatient diagnostic procedures.
At 6 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MS FITZHARRIS: The findings of the 2017 health round table, which mapped Canberra Hospital’s average wait time performance against 13 other public hospitals, showed significant improvements across the board and that the Canberra Hospital is leading in this area. For example, for emergency department requests for MRIs at the Canberra Hospital compared to other public hospitals, there is an average wait time of just over three hours, compared to more than 24 respectively. For CT scans it is one hour compared to 2½. For X-rays it is down to 30 minutes, compared to an hour and a half at the other public hospitals.
Before concluding today, it is important for me to highlight that the training accreditation process is about making improvements to existing programs. ACT Health is committed to an open and transparent approach to all college recommendations and ensuring that our junior doctors are getting the best clinical training. As I mentioned earlier, I believe that the recent broad accreditation of ACT Health provides independent verification of a significant turnaround in ACT Health and commends many departments and many aspects of the accreditation process.
I remain disappointed that in the debate about these matters—which I acknowledge is the right of the Assembly, and it is good to have these issues aired—I do not believe that on any occasion the opposition have acknowledged my comments and the direct feedback from the Australian commission on health and safety when they came back and completed their accreditation process in July. I think this provides sufficient grounds for the government to not support Mrs Dunne’s motion because there is a journey ahead for ACT Health. It has certainly been challenged in recent times, but that has turned around. I would encourage Mrs Dunne and the opposition to honour the work of ACT Health staff, particularly over the past few months, and particularly the very significant comments from the surveyors, which included—and I repeat—comments such as these:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video