Page 4056 - Week 11 - Thursday, 26 September 2019
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Canberra Hospital—emergency department bypass
(Question No 2671)
Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 23 August 2019:
(1) In relation to the hospital bypass on 20 May 2019, what time was the decision taken and who took the decision?
(2) Who was consulted before the decision to implement a bypass was taken.
(3) When were the (a) Minister for Health and Wellbeing and (b) CEO of Canberra Health Services, consulted or advised.
(4) What factors led to the decision to implement a hospital bypass on 20 May 2019.
(5) How many patients were discharged as a result of the hospital bypass and when were they discharged.
(6) How many patients were transferred to private hospitals and (a) which private hospitals where they transferred to, (b) when were these patients transferred and (c) what was the cost of the transfers.
(7) When was the decision made to end the bypass arrangements and who made the decision.
(8) Who was consulted before the decision to end the bypass arrangement.
(9) What factors led to the end of the bypass arrangement.
Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The decision was made by the Canberra Hospital (CH) Commander at 2pm.
(2) CH Commander, CH Emergency Department Admitting Officer, CH Director of Nursing Patient Flow, relevant CH management positions involved in patient flow, ACT Ambulance Service and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce.
(3) It is not part of the process to formally advise the Minister for Health when the hospital goes on bypass. This process has now been updated to include advice to the Minister. The CEO was notified by the Hospital Commander in a formal brief on the day of the bypass.
(4) There was no obvious cause for the surge in admissions other than usual seasonal fluctuations.
(5) It is not possible to separate hospital bypass discharges from business as usual discharges.
(6) (a) Four patients were transferred to National Capital Private Hospital (NCPH) via the corridor link.
(b) Between 5pm and 9pm.
(c) There are no costs to transfer patients to NCPH.
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