Page 533 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Castley for the question. I am reluctant to talk about the individual circumstances of staff in the Canberra Health Services. However, I can confirm there are ongoing conversations with the remaining specialist in the fetal medicine unit about the extent to which they want to continue working in that unit as a CHS employee. I can reassure the ACT community: I think in Ms Castley’s question she said the accreditation for the unit had been suspended. That is not accurate. The accreditation as a training site has been suspended by RANZCOG, the relevant college, during a period where there is not sufficient staff specialist permanent employees to undertake training. I can advise the trainee who was affected by this is continuing to be trained in another hospital. Canberra Health Services has supported them to go to another place so they can continue their training and return to the ACT in due course. I want to really reassure the community that the service itself continues be a safe service. Canberra Health Services is ensuring there are sufficient locum staff to come in and support the service. They have been working with network hospitals to ensure the service can be provided safely and we can get back to a point where RANZCOG is happy to accredit the training as quickly as possible.
MS CASTLEY: Minister, how many staff have left, gone on leave or reduced their hours since accreditation was suspended?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Again, the accreditation is for the training. We have talked about this before. This is not a new issue. We have discussed this before. The suspension of the accreditation for training was specifically about those fetal medicine staff specialists. Now Ms Castley seems to be drawing a wider net around staffing. I am happy to take on notice any changes in staffing for the fetal medicine unit but I again want to emphasise that Canberra Health Services has worked to ensure the service continues to be a safe service. It continues to be provided to the ACT community. I want to reassure anyone who needs that service that it is available and it is a safe service.
MR COCKS: Minister, what specifically are the mitigation strategies you say are being implemented by CHS to continue the tertiary level services for women with complex pregnancies?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Cocks for the supplementary. I have already said primarily this is around ensuring we can get locum or temporary staff in those specialist positions. That has been successful. There is also work underway to ensure there is then a more permanent solution in having those staff available that cannot only undertake the care of people who require care from the fetal medicine unit but can also re-instigate the training program. It is my understanding that RANZCOG has indicated to CHS that they understand the circumstances and once those staff specialists have capacities back in place to ensure the training will be able to be delivered, they will re-accredit the training at the fetal medicine unit.
Education—NAPLAN
MR DAVIS: My question is to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. Minister, could you update the Assembly on what, if any, additional support the government provided to schools to enable the delivery of NAPLAN?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video