Page 1946 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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I am advised that the actual number of beds in the ACT has increased, from 907 in 2009-10 to 1,146 in 2018-19. That is more than 26 per cent if you take that 2018-19 figure. What we have successfully done, therefore, is respond to an increase in separations in our public hospitals of more than 35 per cent over that period, from almost 89,000 in 2009-10 to almost 120,000 in 2018-19.
As I pointed out, we also increased and improved elective surgery performance over that period. We have had a significant increase in seen on time performance in particularly category 2 but also category 1, and last year our public elective surgery numbers were more than 14,000 elective surgeries, a record for the territory. We were on track for 14,250 this year.
MR COE: Minister, was the anticipated demand of 2011, that a 50 per cent increase would be required, accurate as to what we now know?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: That, I would note, is a projected demand to 2022. I have indicated already in my previous answer that we met almost a 35 per cent increase in separations between 2009-10 and 2018-19.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what are the government’s projections for the number of additional beds needed over the next 10, 20 and 50 years?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Dunne for the supplementary question. As she is well aware, we are currently undertaking a territory-wide health services planning exercise, and that future planning is all part of that. We have already committed to the biggest health infrastructure investment since self-government, in the Canberra Hospital expansion, which will deliver another 148 beds, as well as opening two new theatres at Calvary Public Hospital last year and this year. So we are meeting that increase in demand. We also have a scoping study underway for the north side hospital.
That planning is a continual process; it does not stop in 2008 and then we just do whatever it said in 2008. Health planning is an ongoing process. The Canberra Liberals seem to be stuck in 2008. If it was up to them, we would have a big hole in the middle of Canberra Hospital right now because they just picked up a plan and plonked it on as their election commitment in 2016. We did due diligence on that plan, worked out how much it would cost, and worked out that it would actually reduce beds. It would reduce beds for three years during construction. So we chose a better way.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members! Mr Wall, Mrs Dunne and others on my left.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, that is enough.
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