Dr LIM - 1995-08-17
As a medical practitioner, I worked at 2 of our regional hospitals. I was interested to hear that recently that the minister visited each of the 5 hospitals in the Territorys regional centres. Will the minister explain to the House the outcome of consultations with medical staff at those hospitals?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I made what were most enlightening and pleasurable visits to each of those hospitals, in which I can assure Territorians that the quality of service and facilities is quite considerable. I think that that needs to be said to counter the extraordinarily irresponsible banner headlines, such as The Worst Hospital in Australia and Hospital is in Chaos and Crisis, and all of the other nonsense that came, very sadly, from a misdirected industrial campaign by the AMA. Fortunately, we have some very constructive and committed medical officers and others working in the Territory health system.
The outcome of extensive examination and consultations is that steps are be taken immediately to recruit: 4 new doctors for Alice Springs, being one surgical registrar and 3 medical officers; 2 for Katherine; 2 for Nhulunbuy; and 2 more for Darwin. In addition to that additional manpower, a further outcome will be that some of the processes, rostering, amenities and facilities available for doctors will be improved. Some of these changes are quite minor in dollar terms but will be important in enabling doctors to function as effectively as is possible.
Over the next 2 weeks, we will finalise some consultations with ASMOF, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation. I mention that organisation particularly because the report developed by an industrial officer of the AMA and by the Department of Health Services was owned by ASMOF. It will continue to work to find a final agreement with the Department of Health Services by the end of the month to ensure that the already excellent level of services is enhanced further. Nevertheless, as I said at the outset, it is important to acknowledge the quite sad effect of the irresponsible and demeaning articles which resulted from a misdirected union tactic. That sort of comment does nothing to enhance the morale of dedicated doctors, or to improve public confidence in the system.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I made what were most enlightening and pleasurable visits to each of those hospitals, in which I can assure Territorians that the quality of service and facilities is quite considerable. I think that that needs to be said to counter the extraordinarily irresponsible banner headlines, such as The Worst Hospital in Australia and Hospital is in Chaos and Crisis, and all of the other nonsense that came, very sadly, from a misdirected industrial campaign by the AMA. Fortunately, we have some very constructive and committed medical officers and others working in the Territory health system.
The outcome of extensive examination and consultations is that steps are be taken immediately to recruit: 4 new doctors for Alice Springs, being one surgical registrar and 3 medical officers; 2 for Katherine; 2 for Nhulunbuy; and 2 more for Darwin. In addition to that additional manpower, a further outcome will be that some of the processes, rostering, amenities and facilities available for doctors will be improved. Some of these changes are quite minor in dollar terms but will be important in enabling doctors to function as effectively as is possible.
Over the next 2 weeks, we will finalise some consultations with ASMOF, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation. I mention that organisation particularly because the report developed by an industrial officer of the AMA and by the Department of Health Services was owned by ASMOF. It will continue to work to find a final agreement with the Department of Health Services by the end of the month to ensure that the already excellent level of services is enhanced further. Nevertheless, as I said at the outset, it is important to acknowledge the quite sad effect of the irresponsible and demeaning articles which resulted from a misdirected union tactic. That sort of comment does nothing to enhance the morale of dedicated doctors, or to improve public confidence in the system.
Page 728
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016