Page 4133 - Week 14 - Thursday, 25 October 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
parents, who have ambulance cover, I should add, had to borrow a station wagon and put a mattress in it? His doctor had to modify his intravenous drip and provide antibiotics and extra pain-killing drugs so that he could make the trip in an unsatisfactory vehicle, with increased risks and pain from his condition, and in breach of road safety rules.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the answer is that I am not aware of such a case. However, if such a case occurred, I will inquire as to the circumstances in which it occurred and take appropriate action if there is any reason to suggest that the circumstances of that case pointed to some improperness in the way in which procedures were followed. I am no more pleased to see cases of people missing out on high quality service than is Mr Berry. I have made it clear throughout the debate that has been generated in the last few days that there are circumstances, certainly, where I would like to see a better standard of care provided.
However, it needs to be pointed out that the problems experienced by the ACT Ambulance Service are not new problems. They are not problems of the invention of this Government. Ms Follett made an invitation, I think, on Tuesday to the Government to proceed on a cooperative basis to deal with the problems of the Ambulance Service. I think, with the greatest respect, that Mr Berry's question is not designed to further that cooperative approach.
MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question. Does the Minister at last accept that this incident confirms that his Ambulance Service is in crisis because of over 10 months - I repeat, over 10 months - of inaction on recruiting?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, there has not been a period of over 10 months of inaction on recruiting. There has been prompt and, I believe, sufficient action on the question of recruiting. I do not believe that the circumstances of that case indicate that there needs to be, necessarily, any change of circumstances until I assess the circumstances of that case and decide, first of all, whether the facts are as Mr Berry has put them forward and, secondly, whether they indicate any improper procedures or inadequacy of procedures followed in this case.
Private Hospital Development
DR KINLOCH: My question is to Mr Humphries as Minister for Health. Many of us are concerned about hospital development, especially in the private hospital area. Can the Minister assure the Assembly that the development of a private hospital will not result in a downgrading of the public hospital system?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .