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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 6 Hansard (21 May) . . Page.. 1529 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

they just happen to need a service that may not currently be provided at all in our health system, such as a masseuse, that will also be provided via a coordinated care approach. In other words, the approach is about keeping patients well rather than treating them when they are sick. Again we hear sighs from those opposite suggesting that this is somehow boring, to quote Ms McRae.

Ms McRae: Boring - absolutely!

MRS CARNELL: I find it certainly not boring but the most exciting change in the way we fund health care that I have seen in my time of being involved. Taking into account that those opposite, certainly the Green members of this Assembly, are very interested in changing the focus of health funding away from critical care to a coordinated care approach, to an approach that focuses on the patient, that focuses on keeping people well rather than treating them when they are sick, this approach will go ahead and our coordinated care trial will start in January 1997. It is being put together as a joint effort from - - -

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. On the face of it, it sounds as though the member has asked the Executive to announce Executive policy and Mrs Carnell is responding to the request of the member. The member is not allowed to ask the Executive to announce Executive policy.

MR SPEAKER: I am well aware of that. However, this has been announced earlier.

MRS CARNELL: It has been announced, and very recently the Commonwealth Government made a statement indicating that the coordinated care trials will go ahead. I believe that the Assembly would be very interested to know that our coordinated care trial will go ahead on 1 January 1997. It will be based on a coordinated approach between our College of General Practitioners, the ACT Government and some ANU representatives.

MS McRAE: My question is to the Chief Minister in her capacity as Minister for Health. Is it true that this morning at least - - -

Mr De Domenico: Boring!

MS McRAE I do not make ministerial statements during question time, so I will go ahead and ask my question. Is it true that this morning at least two patients were on operating tables for major surgery and no intensive care unit beds were available at the time?

MRS CARNELL: As I took the earlier question on notice, I will take that one on notice as well.

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