Page 2862 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Cody): Mrs Dunne, you were heard in silence.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: The other reality that we need to face is that the hydrotherapy pool at TCH is approaching its end of life and there are attendant risk issues surrounding the pool, as the Nous report says:
The deeply concerning dilemma the CHS has is keeping open a possibly unsafe and no longer suitable venue because no one knows … which alternative arrangements are needed.
That is the issue that we need to address. I have quoted in my amendment the conclusion of the Nous report that it is “implausible that the pool can be kept open considering the on-the-record safety and suitability conclusions that have been drawn by responsible managers in the ACT public sector”. The reality at this point is that it is a fact accepted by Arthritis ACT and publicly acknowledged by its CEO that the hydrotherapy pool at the Canberra Hospital must close. It is also a fact that the government has committed to finding suitable alternatives for all pool users. I have said that a number of times now, both last week and in yesterday’s statement.
As I mentioned yesterday, Nous recommended that the ACT Health Directorate and Canberra Health Services engage with Arthritis ACT to make clear the basis of the conclusions that the hydrotherapy pool at the Canberra Hospital would need to close. This engagement occurred at a meeting with Arthritis ACT and its members on 7 August, where I reiterated the ACT government’s commitment not to close the Canberra Hospital hydrotherapy pool until an appropriate level of access at other suitable locations could be continued for those on Canberra’s south side. This is exactly what the Legislative Assembly called for in May; it is the commitment that was made in May; it is a commitment that I have reiterated; and it is a commitment that we will stick to.
Nous also recommended that the ACT Health Directorate collect data on the use of the hydrotherapy services and assess the best alternatives for individuals, as was outlined in the meeting on 7 August. And as was outlined at the meeting on 7 August, the ACT Health Directorate will work with Arthritis ACT to determine the best methodology for this.
Rather than duplicate clinical assessments—which, we heard very clearly, people attending the meeting said they already have in their referrals—I have asked the ACT Health Directorate to map the current services provided through existing sessions to build a holistic assessment of need. The aim is to provide continuity of support for individuals and groups to the greatest extent possible, rather than simply undertaking a clinical assessment exercise. Again, I refute Mrs Dunne; this is clearly not consistent with Mrs Dunne’s interpretation that groups are going to be broken up and people are not going to have access to services. That is absolutely in contradiction to what we have said and what we have committed to.
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