Page 615 - Week 02 - Thursday, 18 February 2016
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agenda working with our doctors, nurses and other health staff, to make sure that we see an improvement. As I have said on numerous occasions in this place, my priority as health minister is improving timely access to acute care services with two particular key areas of focus. The first is in relation to elective surgery, and we have had some great outcomes on that, as I reported to the Assembly yesterday, particularly for people who are waiting longer than clinically indicated. The second is in relation to timely access and meeting the national emergency access targets, the so-called NEATs. That is what we are very focused on through the agenda I have just outlined.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, why are you unable to explain to the community what has gone wrong in that hospital over the last 10 years?
MR CORBELL: I am not. Simply, it is a very complex equation. There is no one factor that drives these issues around timeliness inside the ED. There are multiple numbers of factors at play and they all interact in very highly complex ways. That is why the government has undertaken a very detailed audit and review of what is going on inside the ED in terms of work flow practice. Improving work flow practice will improve timeliness and access for Canberrans, and that is the focus I have as health minister.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, do we have sufficient hospital beds?
MR CORBELL: Unequivocally, yes.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, when will the people of Canberra no longer wait the longest for emergency room treatment in Australia?
MADAM SPEAKER: I am sorry, Mrs Jones, I did not hear the question.
MRS JONES: Minister, when will the people of Canberra no longer wait the longest for emergency room treatment in the country?
MR CORBELL: It is not the case that Canberrans wait the longest for all categories in our emergency department. In a number of category areas they are longer. They are not the longest but they are longer in a number of instances. We have set a very clear target to see improved access and timeliness and I will be reporting further on those matters to the Assembly in the coming months.
Transport—cycling
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Minister, you yesterday announced that the ACT government is exploring the concept of allowing cyclists to ride in low speed areas without a helmet. Minister, to what extent do you believe that our current helmet laws reduce cycling participation?
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