Page 113 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 8 April 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR BERRY: Wait until I am finished the answer to the question. All you have to do is just sit and listen. Just be quiet. Secondly, independent advice to the Federal Government is that the evidence is inconclusive that low bone mineral content is a good predictor of increased risk of fracture - a major health problem arising from osteoporosis - and there is no consensus yet on an effective treatment for people with low bone mineral content in the middle and older age groups.
Mrs Carnell: You have not read anything since 1989.
MR BERRY: That is the evidence that is coming from the Federal Government and they are, after all - - -
Mr De Domenico: They are all medical experts, are they?
MR BERRY: I would have to say that they would be much better at coming to a conclusion in relation to this matter than Mr De Domenico, and I am sure they would accurately report what is being done in ACT Health, which is something that Mrs Carnell has not done. The ACT supports the Federal Government, which is working to develop a comprehensive strategy, not a knee-jerk one, which addresses the prevention and effective diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.
Mr De Domenico: They have only been there for about 10 years.
MR BERRY: I would not say too much, Mr De Domenico. It is obvious that you do not know much about the subject. Of course, what we will be setting out to do is to best serve the needs of both men and women at risk of developing osteoporosis. I can see that many of the Liberals were not interested in the issue. They were interested only in the stunt, Madam Speaker.
Respite Care Services
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is addressed to the Minister for Community Services. It concerns people who use respite care services in the Territory. Is it the case that young intellectually handicapped women from time to time using respite care overnight do so when only male staff are available to attend them? Is it the case that those male staff are required on occasions to bathe and dress these women and assist them with personal hygiene? Does the Minister regard this as acceptable within our community service sector and, if not, what does he propose to do to cease the practice?
MR CONNOLLY: I thank Mr Humphries for his question because respite care is a very important service to the community, and a service which is increasingly being stretched, although the Labor Government, to its significant credit, in the very tight budgetary situation of last year was able to maintain in real terms funding to the community sector in these areas. Whereas cutbacks occurred in other areas, we were able to maintain in real terms this important service. The practice within the Community Services Bureau is that there be sex appropriate carers for persons in respite care; so the practice is to have female staff present where there will be female patients or female clients.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .