Dr LIM - 2006-08-30
Madam Speaker, I have just drafted an e-mail to the minister seeking confirmation of cancer patient treatment from Alice Springs …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, who is your question to?
Dr LIM: My question is to the Minister for Health.
Madam SPEAKER: Okay.
Dr LIM: Minister, the ABC radio reported last week that services at the Emergency Department at the Alice Springs Hospital were again strained beyond capacity. I quote:
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would never take a statement like that from the member for Greatorex without checking it very carefully. The figures that I receive on a weekly basis for Alice Springs show that there was not a major spike in demand in the Emergency Department. It certainly is and will remain a very busy emergency department. What are we doing about it? We have funded eight overflow beds that …
Dr Lim: What was the cause?
Dr TOYNE: Member for Greatorex, I will sit down if you want to keep on yabbering on over there.
Dr Lim: What is the cause?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, can you please cease interjecting while the minister is talking? He is indicating he is having trouble hearing and speaking.
Dr TOYNE: Madam Speaker, eight overflow beds were included in the increased funding we provided to the Alice Springs Hospital in response to the demand levels that were being experienced. They are in operation and are available for the overflow of patients out of ED.
Currently, we have representation from Alice Springs Hospital on the RAPU development in the Royal Darwin Hospital. We believe it would be appropriate to look at a similar patient management reform in the Alice Springs Hospital as soon as we can develop an appropriate model for the size and situation of the Alice Springs Hospital.
As you know, the Emergency Department redevelopment is being designed at the moment and we fully intend to increase the capacity of the Emergency Department in Alice Springs. We have also continued redevelopment of the hospital building as a whole, including 15 additional bed berths in the old day procedure area and eight renal treatment beds.
We are doing a lot there. Despite the picture the member for Greatorex is attempting to portray, Alice Springs Hospital has more capacity, is a safer hospital, and is able to cope with increasing demands to a degree that would have been unthinkable at the time that this man last had any sort of carriage of health delivery in Alice Springs.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, who is your question to?
Dr LIM: My question is to the Minister for Health.
Madam SPEAKER: Okay.
Dr LIM: Minister, the ABC radio reported last week that services at the Emergency Department at the Alice Springs Hospital were again strained beyond capacity. I quote:
- … things have gotten so bad today that the hospital placed a sign outside saying that waiting times will be even longer than usual, and we have not really reached the traditionally very busy time of the summer months when the hospital struggles to get enough staff.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would never take a statement like that from the member for Greatorex without checking it very carefully. The figures that I receive on a weekly basis for Alice Springs show that there was not a major spike in demand in the Emergency Department. It certainly is and will remain a very busy emergency department. What are we doing about it? We have funded eight overflow beds that …
Dr Lim: What was the cause?
Dr TOYNE: Member for Greatorex, I will sit down if you want to keep on yabbering on over there.
Dr Lim: What is the cause?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, can you please cease interjecting while the minister is talking? He is indicating he is having trouble hearing and speaking.
Dr TOYNE: Madam Speaker, eight overflow beds were included in the increased funding we provided to the Alice Springs Hospital in response to the demand levels that were being experienced. They are in operation and are available for the overflow of patients out of ED.
Currently, we have representation from Alice Springs Hospital on the RAPU development in the Royal Darwin Hospital. We believe it would be appropriate to look at a similar patient management reform in the Alice Springs Hospital as soon as we can develop an appropriate model for the size and situation of the Alice Springs Hospital.
As you know, the Emergency Department redevelopment is being designed at the moment and we fully intend to increase the capacity of the Emergency Department in Alice Springs. We have also continued redevelopment of the hospital building as a whole, including 15 additional bed berths in the old day procedure area and eight renal treatment beds.
We are doing a lot there. Despite the picture the member for Greatorex is attempting to portray, Alice Springs Hospital has more capacity, is a safer hospital, and is able to cope with increasing demands to a degree that would have been unthinkable at the time that this man last had any sort of carriage of health delivery in Alice Springs.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016