Page 4842 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019

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are now largely complete apart from some interruptions when vehicle site entry and exit.

Diversion of underground services in the footpath required some closures and the footpath is now reinstated and open to pedestrians, apart from some minor Icon Water works inside the block which will be completed by end December 2019. Access for pedestrians will be maintained whenever safe and practical. Construction vehicles will occupy the street frontage along Emu Bank, by arrangement until completion of the project (scheduled for March 2020).

(2) Between 1 January to 28 October 2019, Parking Operations has not infringed any vehicles for parking illegally on the temporary pedestrian access area adjacent to the construction site at the Belconnen Arts Centre.

Canberra Hospital—emergency department bypass
(Question No 2723)

Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 20 September 2019:

In relation to The Canberra Hospital bypass on 26 August, (a) what time was the decision taken and who took the decision, (b) who was consulted before the decision to implement a bypass was taken, (c) when were the Minister for Health and the CEO of Canberra Health Services consulted or advised, (d) what factors led to the decision to implement a hospital bypass on that date, (e) how many patients were discharged as a result of the hospital bypass and when were they discharged, (f) how many patients were transferred to private hospitals and of these (i) which private hospitals where they transferred to, (ii) when were these patients transferred and (iii) what was the cost of the transfers, (g) when was the decision made to end the bypass arrangements and who made the decision, (h) who was consulted before the decision to end the bypass arrangement, (i) what factors led to the end of the bypass arrangement, (j) to what extent did the major incident at Bimberi contribute to the decision and (k) what consultation occurred with the Community Services Directorate as part of the decision to bypass the hospital.

Ms Stephen-Smith: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) (a) The decision to go on bypass was made by the Canberra Hospital (CH) Commander (at 20:30.

(b) CH Commander, CH Emergency Department Admitting Officer, relevant CH management positions involved in patient flow, ACT Ambulance Service and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce.

(c) The CEO was aware of bypass at the time bypass was discussed. The CEO advised the Minister for Health via telephone that CH was in ambulance bypass at 20:34.

(d) A Code Yellow was activated at 15:10 due to the hospital being over capacity. This was actively managed throughout the day by the Hospital Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC).

There was no obvious cause for the surge in admissions other than usual seasonal fluctuations.


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