Hansard - ACT Legislative Assembly

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (2 July) . . Page.. 2259 ..

Canberra Hospital - Surgery Cancellations

(Question No. 163)

Mr Stanhope asked the Minister for Health and Community Care, upon notice, on 4 May 1999:

In relation to The Canberra Hospital Surgery Timetable:

(1) How many times has surgery been cancelled since 1 January 1999.

(2) What was the reason for each cancellation

(3) How many patients were affected by these cancellations.

(4) Were the patients affected provided with notice of the cancellations and if so

how close to the operation were they notified.

Mr Moore: The answer to Mr Stanhope's question is:

(1) 21 cases were cancelled by the patient, six cases were cancelled because the

patient was deceased, was medically unfit or equipment was unavailable, five

patients were cancelled for unknown reasons and 29

patients were cancelled on eight separate occasions when

Visiting Medical Officers gave the hospital less than 28

days' notification that they would not be attending.

(2) See (1)

(3) See (1)

(4) Patients are notified 2-3 weeks prior to surgery and cancellation can occur at

any stage between that time and entering the operating

theatre. Patients are always provided with as much notice

of cancellation as possible.