Page 964 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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She will know that we have been working closely with the Ice Sports Federation on our election commitment around a feasibility study for an ice sports facility here in the ACT. That work continues and I will have more information to provide to the community on the outcomes of that feasibility work with the ice sports community. I know that Mrs Dunne will be very interested in the outcomes of that.
Centenary Hospital for Women and Children—unauthorised examinations
MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. I refer to media reports that patients at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children have had vaginal examinations performed on them without their consent. Do you know if this is true?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mrs Jones for the question. As Mrs Jones referred to in an earlier debate, there was a media report based on one submission to the current maternity services inquiry. CHS have released a public statement in which they reject that.
I note that this is a very serious accusation and that CHS has subsequently held meetings with all staff to discuss this and the distress they felt about the way in which this was presented to the Canberra community. I refer also to the letter from the Health Care Consumers Association that was published in the Canberra Times after that article which also expressed concern about the way it was reported.
An inquiry is underway in the Assembly. A range of submissions has been made to that inquiry. Canberra Health Services have investigated that and said that it is not the case but they will continue to look very closely at this. It caused a significant amount of distress, but the maternity services inquiry will continue. I am advised that there has been no consumer feedback that that particular issue took place.
I encourage Mrs Jones to appreciate that it is a very serious accusation not that she has made but which she refers to. It is a very serious accusation and one that Canberra Health Services has said has not occurred.
MRS JONES: Minister, why would staff make up such a claim?
MS FITZHARRIS: It is a submission made to an inquiry; it will be looked at in that inquiry, and members of this Assembly will have the opportunity to look into that matter. Canberra Health Services has also released a public statement about it.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, have you been assured that adequate safeguards are in place to protect patients and ensure quality services?
MS FITZHARRIS: Yes, I have.
Government—business support grants
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills. Minister, you recently announced the start of the $2 million future skills for
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