Page 3590 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 22 October 2013
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That is what the hospitals are focused on. Yes, we want people to get treatment as soon as they can. We do not want waits in the emergency department. But look at the other statistics in the reports that have come out in the last week—the highest utilisation of the public hospitals in the territory compared to other places. So we have got more people using them, because they know they get good-quality care—
Mr Hanson: Is that a good thing?
MS GALLAGHER: Well, it adds another pressure. It is not necessarily a good thing. It adds another pressure. So we know people are using our public hospitals. We know they trust—
Mr Hanson: They’re not using private health care.
MS GALLAGHER: They are definitely not using their private health care. We have got high utilisation of—
Mr Hanson: Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
MS GALLAGHER: I am saying it impacts on the figures, Mr Hanson. You are arguing against yourself there. I am saying it is an additional pressure on the hospital.
Mr Hanson: But you’re responsible. I’m asking you the question.
MADAM SPEAKER: No, it is not time for you to ask questions, Mr Hanson.
MS GALLAGHER: We have people flocking to our hospitals and we are focused on the four-hour rule. That is the measure now. We have seen a slight improvement in that performance—and that is, you get seen, you get treated, you get sent home or you get admitted within four hours. Even though that is perhaps not applied as consistently as it could be, and maybe that will develop over time, that is the measure we are focused on.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, why should Canberrans with children have confidence in your ability to address these problems when they have continually become worse over the six years you have been the minister?
MS GALLAGHER: I was health minister in the 2008 and 2012 elections, and look where I am now. I am still here.
Mr Hanson: Sheer arrogance!
MS GALLAGHER: No, what is the measure of my performance? My performance is measured every four years. Every four years, my performance is measured, and that is
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