HOSPITAL IN HOME SERVICE
744. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the service is internationally recognised and saves thousands of bed days
every year, is this simply another plan to appease unions and bring these
services within the Department of Health, given it is just one year?
Ms A.
SANDERSON replied:
I
reiterate: it makes up 15 per cent of Silverchain's entire contract. It
has the palliative care contract and a range of other contracts. This is
about looking at the best ways to keep people out of hospital beds. Silverchain
is obviously an integral part of that. We are looking at how we can expand the
opportunities for people to receive care outside of hospital.
I took over this portfolio
towards the end of last year, and the negotiations are underway. I also started
the ministerial task force to look at emergency access, which looks at
systemic issues around hospitals and where the challenges and pinch points are,
and exiting people from hospital beds and into their home is one of those. It
is logical that we look at how we can improve that and expand that service to
people in the community.