Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Elective surgery

Mr GUY (Bulleen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Minister for Health. With the suspension of vital surgery, dozens of babies have not been able to have repair of cleft lip and palate, further diminishing their ability to properly feed, impeding development. Occupational and speech therapists warn that these young children will be missing their key milestones and will be pushed further behind because of elective surgery suspensions. When will the government allow the full resumption of elective surgery so that vital surgery for young children and babies like these can resume?

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Equality) (14:03): Can I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Indeed this particular issue is known to me, particularly through the representations that the particular groups and the families involved have sought to reach out to the government in a number of ways. I want to thank those families for their responsible approach to government and I want to thank honourable members on both sides who have made representations on behalf of their communities on this issue.

But those families also understand that what we are dealing with here is a global pandemic, the likes of which have put pressures on our health system that in the lived experience of the entire system right around the country, indeed around the globe, have not been seen before. Of course these delays in non-category 1 elective surgery are hugely regrettable and will not be in for a moment longer than they are needed. They are in place for a very good but nonetheless disruptive reason and that is because we need to treat hundreds of people—I am glad to say steadily decreasing numbers, but still well over 500 people—with this highly infectious disease in our hospital system. About 450 are in the hospital and care program in the community, so nearly 1000 people are under the active direct care of our hospital system right around our community.

That has necessitated, sadly, an arrangement being in place nationally since April 2020 with our private sector partners right across the country when it comes to how that load is shared. In that regard, whether it is the public or the private system—I think I shared this figure with honourable members yesterday—we have seen that some 43 354 public patients have been admitted into the private system from the public list since this global pandemic and this national arrangement was put in place in this state alone. So when we are talking highly infectious diseases, with the sickest people getting the priority they need for that safe service first, it is regrettable that that has seen non-category 1 elective surgery rescheduled. It is this government’s intention, as we continue every day to monitor those arrangements, whether they be the code brown arrangements or the application of different arrangements in this community— (Time expired)

Mr GUY (Bulleen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): Thank you, Minister. But in New South Wales important surgeries such as cleft lip and palate cases in children were immediately reclassified as urgent surgery and allowed to continue. Given you have met the families involved, you have seen them face to face and you have seen the hardship they and their children are suffering, why didn’t the government do the same for kids in Victoria?

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Equality) (14:06): I take, through experience, with a grain of salt all assertions that the honourable Leader of the Opposition makes in terms of what the situation is in Victoria, let alone interstate. But in regard to these—

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the minister to just pause for a moment. I need to be able to hear the minister’s answer, so firstly, can I ask the member to turn around so I can hear his voice, but also so members on my left stop shouting at the minister.

Mr FOLEY: I thank you, honourable Speaker. I will be guided by your ruling on that matter. I take with a grain of salt assertions that the honourable Leader of the Opposition makes in most matters, including this one. But in regard to these decisions as to which in the field of all the available category 1, category 2 and category 3, both public and private, operations are needed, these are clinical decisions that are made by clinicians. These are clinical decisions that are made by professional bodies who advise the government accordingly. These are not decisions made by politicians or bureaucrats— (Time expired)