Page 4813 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994
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It is not reasonable to expect that a hospital where emergency admissions constitute more than 40% of admissions will always have sufficient beds to admit all patients as soon as they arrive. This would mean that too many beds are left empty to cope with possible demand for emergencies when they should be used for elective admissions.
I was kind enough not to quote the part where he quite emphatically refuted Mrs Carnell's claim that we need a holding ward. At page 13, while he noted that that was suggested by some staff, he said, and I quote him precisely:
Some of the suggestions made by staff have practical disadvantages. A holding ward, for example, would quickly become a permanent increase in the number of beds but would separate patients from their treating units.
Mrs Carnell: Only if it is not cleared every morning. I know what he said before, and he is wrong.
MR CONNOLLY: He said:
Experiments elsewhere with similar ideas have led to greater cost and less effective service for some patients.
I heard Mrs Carnell interject, "I know what he said, but he is wrong". So, in the unlikely event of the Liberals ever winning government, Mrs Carnell not only will drive the ambulance, perform the nursing role, perform the surgical role, prescribe the pharmaceuticals and do the X-rays, but also will be the Health Complaints Commissioner.
Mr De Domenico: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: As a matter of clarification, I would like to know whether the document that the Minister is referring to is the same as the one that he tabled. I am confused. Can I refer the Minister to page 8, just to make sure that we have the same document. I think it is the third paragraph on page 8, a paragraph out on its own - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, you are stretching the limits of a point of order.
Mr De Domenico: It says:
The primary problem was not a lack of resources in the Accident and Emergency Department but a short term lack of available beds in the hospital.
Are we quoting from the same document, Minister?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, order!
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