Mr CONLAN - 2008-09-17
It is estimated that bed block and overcrowding in emergency departments contributes to increased hospital mortality rates. The Northern Territory has the second-longest waiting time in Australia for all patients presenting to the ED, with only 55% being seen within the recommended time. These statistics are in spite of the ACHS accreditation process. Is it not the fact that, unless the Territory has a full public inquiry into Territory hospitals, these problems will continue to be swept under the carpet, just like the nurse staffing crisis at Royal Darwin Hospital?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that our Emergency Department at Royal Darwin Hospital is amongst the busiest in Australia, probably over two or three times …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, cease interjecting!
Dr BURNS: It is probably double what it is in the rest of Australia, and the demand is increasing, year on year, although it has …
Mr Conlan: Do you know by how many? Do you know how many you get a year?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, you have asked the minister a question. You will cease interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Yes, I can tell you that, Madam Speaker. In 2007-08, there were over 56 300 presentations to the ED at Royal Darwin Hospital. In 2006-07, there were 56 000 presentations. The point I am making, and thank you for asking the question, member for Greatorex, is that whilst demand is increasing, it has actually plateaued to some degree.
What has this government done about bed block? We have done a number of things, principally, a Rapid Admission Planning Unit - 24 beds ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was whether the minister supported a public inquiry. We do not particularly want a dissertation on the things that he thinks he wants us to hear.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. The minister has the call.
Dr BURNS: The Rapid Admission Planning Unit, called for and designed by the clinicians at Royal Darwin Hospital, is a very good initiative. The member for Greatorex toured Royal Darwin Hospital, I believe, on Monday, and he would have been shown the Rapid Admission Planning Unit ...
Mr Conlan: Yes, and I also heard about a new thing called corridor-ology.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, there are 24 beds in this particular unit, staffed, in toto, by 70 to 80 people, not only nurses and doctors, but also allied health professionals, with ...
Mr Elferink: What about a public inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members, I will just remind you of Standing Order 51:
The member for Greatorex has asked a question and, member for Greatorex, you have continued to interject while the minister is answering the question that you have asked. I ask that you not interject again. Minister, you have the call.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. … a recurrent expenditure of $7.8m per annum. The evidence shows that there has been a significant reduction in waiting times for people to be admitted into Royal Darwin Hospital, or discharged home, through the Rapid Admission Planning Unit. This has alleviated bed block throughout Royal Darwin Hospital. We still have significant problems with bed block at the hospital, and this comes about because, at any one time, there is between 40 to 55 patients who would be better off outside the hospital in a nursing home or a home environment. This has been a long-standing problem for the hospital ...
Mr Conlan: So, perhaps a full public inquiry.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bohlin: An inquiry would help.
Dr BURNS: If the member for Drysdale would like to listen, I am telling him what the issues around bed block are and …
Mr Elferink: What we are asking is, would you support a full public inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting!
Dr BURNS: The question was: what are we doing about bed block?
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I can re-read the question if the minister is misguided about what it is.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, please resume your seat. The minister has the call.
Dr BURNS: What are we doing about this? It could be 30, it could be 50, it varies. We are working with the federal government. A block of land has been identified at Waratah Oval. There have been discussions and arrangements with Southern Cross, a very reputable agency, about constructing facilities there. Many of those people who are in that facility will be able to go there. In addition, the facility run by the Masons at Tiwi will open in the next four to six weeks and that should further alleviate the situation.
For the opposition to assert that government is doing nothing, that somehow the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards is responsible …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: What I am saying is, government is responsible, we are working …
Members interjecting..
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that our Emergency Department at Royal Darwin Hospital is amongst the busiest in Australia, probably over two or three times …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, cease interjecting!
Dr BURNS: It is probably double what it is in the rest of Australia, and the demand is increasing, year on year, although it has …
Mr Conlan: Do you know by how many? Do you know how many you get a year?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, you have asked the minister a question. You will cease interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Yes, I can tell you that, Madam Speaker. In 2007-08, there were over 56 300 presentations to the ED at Royal Darwin Hospital. In 2006-07, there were 56 000 presentations. The point I am making, and thank you for asking the question, member for Greatorex, is that whilst demand is increasing, it has actually plateaued to some degree.
What has this government done about bed block? We have done a number of things, principally, a Rapid Admission Planning Unit - 24 beds ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was whether the minister supported a public inquiry. We do not particularly want a dissertation on the things that he thinks he wants us to hear.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. The minister has the call.
Dr BURNS: The Rapid Admission Planning Unit, called for and designed by the clinicians at Royal Darwin Hospital, is a very good initiative. The member for Greatorex toured Royal Darwin Hospital, I believe, on Monday, and he would have been shown the Rapid Admission Planning Unit ...
Mr Conlan: Yes, and I also heard about a new thing called corridor-ology.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, there are 24 beds in this particular unit, staffed, in toto, by 70 to 80 people, not only nurses and doctors, but also allied health professionals, with ...
Mr Elferink: What about a public inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members, I will just remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
The member for Greatorex has asked a question and, member for Greatorex, you have continued to interject while the minister is answering the question that you have asked. I ask that you not interject again. Minister, you have the call.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. … a recurrent expenditure of $7.8m per annum. The evidence shows that there has been a significant reduction in waiting times for people to be admitted into Royal Darwin Hospital, or discharged home, through the Rapid Admission Planning Unit. This has alleviated bed block throughout Royal Darwin Hospital. We still have significant problems with bed block at the hospital, and this comes about because, at any one time, there is between 40 to 55 patients who would be better off outside the hospital in a nursing home or a home environment. This has been a long-standing problem for the hospital ...
Mr Conlan: So, perhaps a full public inquiry.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bohlin: An inquiry would help.
Dr BURNS: If the member for Drysdale would like to listen, I am telling him what the issues around bed block are and …
Mr Elferink: What we are asking is, would you support a full public inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting!
Dr BURNS: The question was: what are we doing about bed block?
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I can re-read the question if the minister is misguided about what it is.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, please resume your seat. The minister has the call.
Dr BURNS: What are we doing about this? It could be 30, it could be 50, it varies. We are working with the federal government. A block of land has been identified at Waratah Oval. There have been discussions and arrangements with Southern Cross, a very reputable agency, about constructing facilities there. Many of those people who are in that facility will be able to go there. In addition, the facility run by the Masons at Tiwi will open in the next four to six weeks and that should further alleviate the situation.
For the opposition to assert that government is doing nothing, that somehow the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards is responsible …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: What I am saying is, government is responsible, we are working …
Members interjecting..
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016