Page 3457 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Dunne for the supplementary, but no, I will not. This has been the subject of ongoing conversation about the need to ensure that staff in those areas that have been identified are supported to address the cultural challenges in those areas. They will not be supported by those areas being identified and subject to further public scrutiny and debate about those particular issues. Work is going on across all of those areas, and I am briefed by the CEO of Canberra Health Services and the Director-General of the Health Directorate about that work. There is a lot of detailed work going on, but that work must be done in a way that is supporting staff who are affected, and not drawing out, identifying and potentially vilifying particular areas of Canberra Health Services where we know that staff are doing their very best to support patients and there is a lot of work going on to improve the culture in those areas, addressing their specific issues that have been identified.
Centenary Hospital for Women and Children—bypass
MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for Health. It has been reported today on social media that maternity services at the Canberra Centenary hospital have been on what is described as bypass, with women being discouraged from turning up for help and being turned away if they do. Minister, has the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children put in place initiatives to discourage women from seeking assistance? If so why?
Mrs Dunne: Including advising them to cross their legs.
MRS JONES: Cross their legs?
Mrs Dunne: Yes.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Jones for the question. I am aware that there has been one occasion recently when maternity services at the Canberra Hospital were put on so-called bypass. One woman in early labour was transferred to the Calvary hospital. My understanding is that this has not occurred just recently, as has been reported in the media. I have sought further information from Canberra Health Services in relation to that matter.
MRS JONES: Minister, are all delivery suites currently available for use or are some of them offline for maintenance?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I will take that question on notice.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, is Calvary Public Hospital, Bruce putting in place similar initiatives to discourage women from seeking assistance? And if there is a problem with the provision of services, are you looking to outsource to, say, the private maternity providers to provide backup?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: No. It is my understanding that there is no such strategy at Calvary. Of course, what we are seeking to do in maternity services is develop a coordinated territory-wide response. That is why, very shortly, from 31 September,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video