Page 2301 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 29 August 2007
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refusal to accept there is a problem beyond winter ills does not augur well for finding solutions.
Finally, on reporting breaches, the complaints of a lack of equipment and basic supplies are just the tip of the iceberg. Nurses should not be threatened with the sack if they speak out on these issues. Last week, sacked nurse Louise Wright spoke out on Stateline because she cares. The message that is being conveyed to other nurses is, I am told, “Don’t speak out, or you will be next.” The minister has stated that she wants nurses to put in the ANF critical stress notices when they believe it is appropriate. From the tenor of the Stanhope government’s attack on me in the Assembly last week for exposing the problems in public hospitals in the ACT raised with me by numerous individuals, I would need to be convinced that the minister’s openness to receiving criticism is genuine.
What is right, just or even commonsensical about punishing nursing staff who are only trying to put their patients first? Isn’t that what hospitals are supposed to be about? I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Minister for Health, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Disability and Community Services, Minister for Women) (11.07): The government will not be supporting this motion. I move the amendment circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that:
(a) basic equipment and supplies are readily available to nursing staff at public hospitals; and
(b) infections control protocols are in place and being followed at both public hospitals;
(2) notes that ACT Health reports publicly quarterly on a range of performance measures, including patient safety and infection control measures;
(3) notes that all ACT Health staff are trained in the use of, and are required to report, risks and incidents in the health system;
(4) notes that ACT Health has investigated all matters raised by staff in a timely fashion; and
(5) notes with regret the misinformation campaign being run by Mrs Burke, who is continuously talking down the ACT public health system and the health professionals that work within it.”.
Thank you for the opportunity to talk today on our ACT public hospitals and the ACT public health system more broadly. I want to assure the Canberra community that basic equipment and supplies are readily available to nursing staff at public hospitals. We have had a close look at the matter in light of some of the public allegations made by Mrs Burke, and I can assure the community that there are no shortages of basic
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