Page 1304 - Week 04 - Thursday, 8 May 2014

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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Minister, I refer you to the clinical safety alert CSA0414 that says that on 28 April 2014, following a cardiac arrest—

MADAM SPEAKER: Preamble, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: the cardiac summary identified that a shock had not been administered effectively.

MADAM SPEAKER: Sorry, Mr Smyth, there is supposed to be no preamble. Come to the question.

MR SMYTH: Minister, do you stand by your statement that there have been no failures of these machines?

MR CORBELL: I am not advised of any failure that has compromised patient safety.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Lawder.

MS LAWDER: Minister, subsequent to the failure of the defibrillators, did any patients die?

MR CORBELL: It would follow that if there has been no compromising of patient safety then there has been no adverse clinical event which would result in such a circumstance as that suggested by Ms Lawder. I would suggest that to make such a claim or to ask such a question is tantamount to scaremongering.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.

MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how are paramedics trained to deal with patient safety and heart events?

MADAM SPEAKER: Could you just repeat the question, Mr Gentleman.

MR GENTLEMAN: Yes. I asked the minister how are paramedics trained to deal with patient safety and heart events—in direct response to his answer to the first question.

MADAM SPEAKER: I just did not hear what you said.

MR CORBELL: Ambulance paramedics are trained comprehensively to deal with these circumstances. They have fail-safe and backup procedures should there be any compromising of or problems with the delivery of care due to a piece of equipment. That is a normal thing. That is what you would expect our ambulance officers to do. That is what you would expect the Ambulance Service to put in place. And that is what they have in place.


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