Page 1394 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 6 May 2015
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identified the University of Canberra as the preferred site for the new Canberra subacute hospital. The report estimated the cost of the hospital at $282 million to $342 million for 200 beds plus outpatient facilities. A deal was signed with the university on 10 September 2012. The number of planned overnight hospital beds has now been reduced from 200 to 140. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has said that the reduction to 140 beds is a “glaring discrepancy in respect of the ACT government commitment made in 2011”. Minister, when were plans for the numbers of overnight subacute beds at the new north Canberra hospital cut from 200 to 140?
MR CORBELL: We have not cut the number of beds. This is a subacute hospital. It is a mixture of overnight and day bed accommodation. The total number of beds is 215. That is the number of beds proposed, and that is made up of 140 overnight beds and 75 day beds. That is entirely appropriate for the model of care. This is not an acute care hospital facility. It is a subacute hospital. It is designed to meet the needs of an ageing population, of a growing population, of a population that, for the first time, will get a dedicated subacute and rehabilitation facility to meet their needs. So whether it is people with dementia, whether it is people with mental illness, whether it is people recovering from a serious accident, injury or surgery, that is what this facility is for. We have been very clear, and we are maintaining our commitment to invest in hospital and health services in our community. The number of beds is over 200, consistent with the previous commitments made by the government.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, why were the numbers of overnight subacute beds at the north Canberra hospital cut from 200 to 140?
MR CORBELL: They have not been.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, what is the current cost estimate for this project?
MR CORBELL: The cost estimate for this project is over $100 million. The government have made provision in the budget for it but, we recognise that we are engaged in a competitive process for the delivery of this infrastructure. We do not wish to precondition the market to a particular figure because we want to get value for money for taxpayers. So we have made the appropriate provisions in the budget and we will now proceed through the delivery stage and the tender stage with the private sector to get value for money. Unlike with other capital bills that are traditionally the case in the health sector, we are seeking tenders not just for the construction but for the maintenance of this facility over a set term. It is very important that we get that package right and that we get a competitive process that delivers value for money for ACT ratepayers.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
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