Mr CHANDLER - 2008-09-17
On 24 July, Ms Christine Kirkham wrote to you concerning Mr Joe Kane’s treatment at Royal Darwin Hospital. Mr Kane was advised he needed to go into hospital overnight for eye laser treatment. After having the treatment at 2.30 pm, Mr Kane was given a sandwich and taken to the Drug and Rehabilitation Centre. Mr Kane claims he was left without medical care. At 8.30 pm, he asked office staff at the centre to take him to emergency to get some pain relief. That was provided, but Mr Kane was informed there were no beds available for him. Consequently, Mr Kane was forced to ring his family at 9.15 pm to come and get him, despite the fact he was meant to be in a bed.
Minister, do you agree with Joe Kane’s daughter-in-law that his treatment was totally unacceptable? How many more examples do we need before you support the opposition’s inquiry into the Territory’s public hospitals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have taken a very active interest in the letter that Ms Kirkham has written to me on behalf of Mr Kane. A reply to that letter was sent yesterday or the day before to Ms Kirkham.
Yes, Mr Kane did have eye surgery. However, as I said in my letter to Ms Kirkham, the reason he had to stay at the hospital in the self-care facility - not the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation facility as you have asserted - was that he said there was no-one to look after him at home. Ms Kirkham is his daughter-in-law, as I understand it. She has written on behalf of Mr Kane. I am advised that after his surgery, Mr Kane was not prescribed any analgesia for his condition. He went to the self-care facility. Later, he reported pain. The protocol is that, when someone reports pain in that circumstance, and they need analgesia, those drugs are not kept at the self-care facility, because, basically, patients look after themselves in that particular facility. He was then taken to Accident and Emergency and prescribed medication. Those are the facts.
There were aspects of Mr Kane’s care, around his meals, I believe, that could have been improved, and I have written that in the reply to Ms Kirkham.
Member for Brennan, you have asked me a question. I have given you the reply. I have also written to Ms Kirkham. I am more than happy to send you a copy of the letter I have written to Ms Kirkham.
Minister, do you agree with Joe Kane’s daughter-in-law that his treatment was totally unacceptable? How many more examples do we need before you support the opposition’s inquiry into the Territory’s public hospitals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have taken a very active interest in the letter that Ms Kirkham has written to me on behalf of Mr Kane. A reply to that letter was sent yesterday or the day before to Ms Kirkham.
Yes, Mr Kane did have eye surgery. However, as I said in my letter to Ms Kirkham, the reason he had to stay at the hospital in the self-care facility - not the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation facility as you have asserted - was that he said there was no-one to look after him at home. Ms Kirkham is his daughter-in-law, as I understand it. She has written on behalf of Mr Kane. I am advised that after his surgery, Mr Kane was not prescribed any analgesia for his condition. He went to the self-care facility. Later, he reported pain. The protocol is that, when someone reports pain in that circumstance, and they need analgesia, those drugs are not kept at the self-care facility, because, basically, patients look after themselves in that particular facility. He was then taken to Accident and Emergency and prescribed medication. Those are the facts.
There were aspects of Mr Kane’s care, around his meals, I believe, that could have been improved, and I have written that in the reply to Ms Kirkham.
Member for Brennan, you have asked me a question. I have given you the reply. I have also written to Ms Kirkham. I am more than happy to send you a copy of the letter I have written to Ms Kirkham.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016