Page 176 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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we put the fire service through. We also have the advantage that Mr Lucas-Smith is involved in the entire New South Wales debrief. That New South Wales exercise will take some time yet, I think. In due course Mr Lucas-Smith will probably report to me on that and I will pass that on to members.
MR STEVENSON: I have a brief supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Understanding the importance of water in putting out fires, could the Minister have the leak in the first floor kitchen fixed? It has been there for a couple of weeks.
MADAM SPEAKER: I think that you can ignore that.
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I will do that. Sometimes Mr Stevenson does not regard me as an authoritative source. I noted that earlier he cited Davy Crockett as an authoritative source. Mr Stevenson, I assure you that I will fix the problem.
Woden Valley Hospital - Bed Numbers
MR WESTENDE: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is directed to the Minister for Health, Mr Berry. Media reports today indicate that another 15 obstetrics beds in both the postnatal and prenatal wards at Woden Valley Hospital have been closed and are unlikely to be reopened. Is the Minister using bed closures at Woden Valley Hospital to achieve his unrealistic forecast of no increase in activity levels this year, or is it just because his health budget has blown out again?
MR BERRY: I can see that you have been taking your advice from Mrs Carnell. You ought to get a new adviser, let me tell you, because Mrs Carnell has not read the book on hospital administration.
Mrs Carnell: And you have?
MR BERRY: You never saw the big picture. I do not think you even got to reading the index. The issue is about hospital beds, productivity in the hospital system, and so on. You cannot use bed numbers as a measure of hospital performance. We have been through this 1,000 times before. You cannot use beds by themselves as a measure of hospital performance.
Mr Connolly: That is what Ron Phillips says in New South Wales.
MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell's Liberal colleague in New South Wales, as my colleague Mr Connolly suggests, also uses that sort of language. He says, "You cannot use beds as a measure of hospitals".
Mrs Carnell: Yes, and he has double the amount that you have - not just a bit more, but double.
Mrs Grassby: So he should have. It is a much bigger State.
Mrs Carnell: Per head.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
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