Page 1568 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 14 May 2019
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MRS DUNNE: Minister, why has the ACT been consistently unable to meet the targets for emergency department treatment, and why have they, over time, got progressively worse than the rest of the country, notwithstanding all the reasons you have given?
MS FITZHARRIS: It is the priority of Canberra Health Services to improve those waiting times. We are seeing a number of strategies in place at the moment in the emergency department to improve waiting times in the emergency department.
One aspect of the work that we have been doing is to introduce walk-in centres to provide another alternative for people needing treatment.
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MS FITZHARRIS: Category 5 presentations to the hospital have come down by 15 per cent, whereas category 1 patients have gone up by about the same number. Obviously these are very different presentations.
We have a number of strategies in place at Canberra Hospital and also at Calvary hospital. One other significant measure that this government is taking is investing in the Calvary hospital emergency department to deliver a significant expansion and upgrade of the emergency department. We look forward to that being delivered, particularly for Canberrans on the north side.
MS LEE: Minister, why has the ACT been the only jurisdiction that has not been able to provide accurate data for the performance of its hospitals when it is the smallest hospital system in the country in terms of number of hospitals?
Ms Fitzharris: I am not clear what Ms Lee is specifically referring to. If she could provide clarification that would be welcome.
MS LEE: I repeat: why is the ACT the only jurisdiction not able to provide accurate data on the performance of hospitals?
MS FITZHARRIS: No, it is not. I certainly know that there have been well-canvassed views and discussions in this place on the ACT not providing data to a ROGS report a number of years ago and subsequent to that there have been agreements with AIHW about providing certain data sets. But I am not aware of anything in particular that is different to that that Ms Lee may be referring to.
Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
MR MILLIGAN: My question is to the Treasurer. It is regarding the Indigenous bush healing farm, for which $10.8 million was appropriated in the 2007-08 Appropriation Bill (No 2). The purpose of that appropriation was outlined in the 2007-08 Appropriation Bill (No 2). Treasurer, what actions did you take to ensure that the usage of the Indigenous bush healing farm was consistent with that purpose?
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