Page 1287 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
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In regard to the detail of the operations, that is up to police. It does change not regularly but it does change from time to time. Dedicated officers are also on board and ready to respond.
MS LEE: Minister, how are anonymous allegations of domestic violence or sexual assault handled by front-line staff?
MR GENTLEMAN: All reports to ACT police are taken as reports and investigated from there on.
MRS JONES: Minister, is support provided to front-line staff who deal with these types of complaints whilst also supporting the investigation into these serious allegations?
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes. We have health and wellbeing officers embedded in ACT Policing. There is a general theme for ensuring the safety of all front-line police as they operate on the ground, whether it is in these matters or other matters of policing. That is followed up with the health and wellbeing officers as well.
Centenary Hospital for Women and Children—unauthorised examinations
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, nearly 12 months ago you received an anonymous letter from nurses and midwives at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. In it they said:
It is only a matter of time before there is an adverse outcome for a mother, baby or staff member.
On 7 February this year a patient at the Centenary hospital complained that she was forced into a vaginal examination without her consent. Minister, could you have done more to prevent this alleged assault from occurring?
MS FITZHARRIS: There has been significant work undertaken, particularly in maternity services, over the past 12 months. What I have done is to ensure that there is proper governance and leadership in both Canberra Health Services and our ACT Health Directorate.
I was very clear also that we needed to relieve some of the pressure on the Centenary hospital, which is why I insisted upon an upgrade to and an expansion of the Calvary public hospital’s maternity capacity. That has since opened and is now wonderfully being able to take up more women across Canberra to have their babies.
A range of activities is underway prompted by the submissions to the maternity services inquiry. They have been part of the discussions in maternity services over the past 12 months. I have paid close attention both to those matters and to expanding and improving the access to and the quality of maternity services in the ACT.
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