Page 2885 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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concerning Mrs Windish and her problems as a person dying from cancer. Mrs Windish was a patient at the Woden Valley Hospital until about June this year, when she discharged herself to return to her home. I understand that at home Mrs Windish has been receiving community nursing.
Mr Berry: Why are you doing this?
MR HUMPHRIES: I am sorry that Mr Berry is not interested in the plight of this poor woman.
Mr Berry: These sorts of things do not need to be discussed here.
MR HUMPHRIES: Whilst in hospital the department granted Mrs Windish a special dispensation providing free medication because of financial hardship. Since her discharge from hospital it has not been possible for the hospital to continue supplying Mrs Windish with free medication. The provision of free medication is a matter for the pharmaceutical benefits scheme which, of course, as members know, is administered by the Commonwealth Department of Social Security. On 4 August this year Mrs Windish was transported by ambulance from her home to accident and emergency at Woden Valley Hospital. Although she had a prescription from her medical practitioner, it was necessary for her to personally present to the hospital for accident and emergency staff to administer the medication which she urgently required.
I have asked the department to consider the question of whether Mrs Windish can be provided with the drugs available to her for free in hospital while she is at home. Since the alternative is that Mrs Windish would have to come back into hospital and have the same drugs administered to her in hospital at total government expense, it would seem obvious that unless there are other problems she should be provided with those drugs in her own home.
Mr Berry: How long have you known about this?
MR HUMPHRIES: This matter came to my attention today.
Acton Peninsula Site
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Health, Mr Humphries. On Monday on ABC radio Mr Humphries said that he stood by his ministerial statement made in March that the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Home and convalescent beds would be put on the Royal Canberra Hospital site. In this Assembly on 27 March 1990, Mr Humphries said:
... the Government has decided to provide convalescent beds as proposed in the Social Policy
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