Page 2872 - Week 09 - Thursday, 27 September 2007

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(1) What is the Government’s preventative maintenance program for medical equipment held at Calvary Hospital and The Canberra Hospital;

(2) Has any such equipment currently in use passed its useful life; if so, what equipment;

(3) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, were any instances reported of injuries sustained by ACT Health staff or patients as a result of using such equipment that is either inadequately maintained, or has passed its useful life; if so, (a) how many instances, (b) what injuries were sustained and (c) what subsequent action was taken to prevent a repetition;

(4) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, were any instances reported of injuries sustained by ACT Health staff or patients as a result of undertaking tasks due to their non-use of such equipment and the reasons for non-use of such equipment; if so, (a) how many instances, (b) what type of equipment would have been needed for the tasks undertaken, (c) why was the equipment not available and (d) what subsequent action was taken to prevent a repetition;

(5) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, were any instances reported of the health of patients being at risk due to any such equipment either being not available, poorly maintained, or passed its useful life; if so, (a) how many instances, (b) what was the nature of the health risk, (c) why was the equipment not available and (d) what subsequent action was taken to prevent a repetition;

(6) In relation to consumables of a medical nature, for example but not limited to dressings, tubing (for IV and other uses) and medications etc, what policies and practices are in place in relation to central stock levels that are maintained by the hospitals for consumables;

(7) What evidence is there to show that those stock levels outlined in part (6) are adequate to ensure the timely supply of consumables to meet the needs of hospital patients;

(8) What internal supply processes are in place to ensure that hospital wards have adequate and timely access to consumables held in central store;

(9) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, were there any reported instances of staff being unable to attend to the needs of patients because of the lack of supply of consumables; if so, (a) how many instances, (b) why were the consumables not available and (c) what subsequent action was taken to prevent a repetition;

(10) During 2006-07 and 2007-08 to date, were there any reported instances of the health of patients being at risk because of the unavailability of consumables; if so, (a) how many instances, (b) what was the nature of the health risk, (c) why were the consumables not available and (d) what subsequent action was taken to prevent a repetition.

Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The information I am providing is for ACT Health facilities and does not include Calvary Health Care assets as those assets are not on the ACT Health Asset Register.

The Canberra Hospital utilises both in-house and external contractors to complete its preventative maintenance programs for individual equipment, to schedules recommended by the manufacturers of those individual equipment items.


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