Page 937 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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The following week, there was another letter:
I owe my life to the skill of the surgical team and the follow up treatment I received …
I was most impressed with the professionalism of the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff during a recuperation which was at times stressful but was eased considerably by their compassion and cheerful attitude …
We consider ourselves very fortunate to live in Canberra with access to what we would rank as world-class health services.
Of course, we all know that it is not always the case that good news stories make the front page, but it is an important point that every day—every day—there are wonderful heart-warming stories from members of our community who face sickness and injury, and are treated with care, compassion and the utmost professionalism in our hospitals. I think we should all reflect upon that.
This is distressing for me as health minister. And while I have considerable responsibilities, others also have a responsibility, including the opposition and those reporting on health.
There is always room for improvement, Madam Speaker, and we should recognise and celebrate that we have a great healthcare system here in Canberra, with thousands of dedicated, skilled staff, many of whom contributed to the independent review, but many of whom are distressed when they read and hear such consistently negative responses. What they mind most of all is that there is almost never coverage of the immense good work they do every day. Someone needs to shine a light on that, and I will.
The Health Care Consumers Association recently wrote a letter to the editor of the Canberra Times. The letter read:
The continuous trashing of Canberra Health Services, under the cover of “reporting” is doing a great disservice to the community who need to understand the reality of their health system and how it’s performing, so they can have confidence in seeking health care when they need it.
HCCA staff have seen recent data which compares the Centenary Hospital quality and safety data with equivalent services in Australia. They do at least as well as equivalent Australian hospitals and in many cases are in the top cohort.
There is a clear need for better public reporting on quality and safety data about our health system. If this material was in the public domain it would be easier for consumers and citizens to have real information …
How about an article: “In a recent survey of discharged patients, 100 per cent of patients from the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children would recommend the hospital to family and friends”? Perhaps not controversial enough to be news. But it is evidence based.
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