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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3528 ..
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO. 294
Public Hospitals - Security Arrangements
In relation to paediatric and neonatal services in ACT public hospitals and considering recent events at the new children's hospital in Sydney -
(1) Has there been a review of security arrangements at both public hospitals,
(a) if so, what is the outcome of that review; or
(b) if not, will you undertake to carry out such a review and provide the results of the review.
Mrs Carnell - the answer to the Member's question is:
(1) Yes. Both The Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital have recently undertaken reviews of existing security arrangements in the paediatric and neonatal areas.
(a) At Calvary Public Hospital, neonates room in with their mother. Parents are instructed not to leave the ward without advising staff that their baby will be unattended. When so advised arrangements are made to have the baby supervised.
Following discussion with senior management and staff of the Women's and Children's Health Service at The Canberra Hospital, some procedural modifications have been instituted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which will enhance the security system already in place.
The current security controls in the paediatric area were considered satisfactory and no changes were deemed necessary.
All staff throughout the hospital were recently reminded of security arrangements applying across the hospital campus as part of normal administrative review.
(b) Not applicable.
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