Tuesday 16 June 2009
HANSARD OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

BEACONSFIELD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE BEDS

Mr FINCH (Question) - Would the Leader please inform us of the effect of the integration of primary and acute health care into a northern area health service on bed occupancy and services at the Beaconsfield Community Health Centre?

Mr PARKINSON - I thank the member for his question.  In the short term there are not expected to be any significant changes.  However, under the Northern Area Health Service new models of care are being developed and implemented which will focus on the optimal use of resources throughout the whole northern area with the aim of moving patients from the Launceston General Hospital back to their community as soon as is clinically appropriate and to support rural health services in providing care and thus avoiding transfers to the Launceston General Hospital.  This will require a strong working relationship with the local general practitioners.  The Beaconsfield District Health Service is a multipurpose service delivering a wide range of inpatient and community-based health services including aged care, community nursing, social work, physiotherapy and sub-acute care.

Admissions to sub-acute beds at Beaconsfield District Health Service ceased for a period during the 2007-08 financial year following completion of the recommendations from a clinical services review.  The number of discharges where the admission was by transfer from another hospital for the 2007-08 financial year was two, compared with 13 discharges for the nine months to 31 March 2009.  In respect to aged-care bed use for the six months to 31 December 2008, occupancy was 97 per cent, an increase from 91 per cent for the six months to 31 December 2007.