Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital

Mr Fletcher asked the Minister for Health and Ageing on 18 October 2010:

(1) During her time as Minister, has she visited Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital; if so, on what dates?

(2) Can she indicate whether submissions were made by the NSW Government (and other entities) for funding for Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital under the various rounds of the Health and Hospitals Fund; if so,

            (a) for what purpose was funding sought in these submissions,

            (b) what submissions were

(i) selected, and

(ii) not selected, for funding, and

 (c) on what grounds were submissions not selected for funding?

(3) Does her department or any agency within her responsibility undertake or receive assessments on the standard, state and needs of Australia’s public hospitals; if so, what is the nature and substance of such assessments in respect of Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital?

(4) Does her department or any agency within her responsibility undertake or receive rankings of Australia’s public hospitals on their respective standards, states and needs; if so, how is Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital ranked, and why?

Ms Roxon answered as follows:

(1) While I have visited many of Australia’s 756 public hospitals, I have not had the opportunity to visit Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.

(2) The Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) did not receive a submission from the NSW Government, or any other entity, for funding for the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital under the Health and Hospitals Fund.

(3) The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare regularly receives information on public hospitals, some of which is now published on the MyHospitals website.  Under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007, all hospitals (both public and private), as part of the Commonwealth declaration process for private health insurance benefits, the Medicare Benefits Scheme and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, where applicable, must have and maintain accreditation from an appropriate accreditation agency.  The responsibility of the Department is to ensure that hospitals maintain their level of accreditation.  Under the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement, a new National Performance Authority is being established to report on individual hospitals, both public and private, Local Hospital Networks, and Medicare Locals.  The Authority will publish Hospital Performance Reports that will provide clear and nationally comparable performance data covering every Local Hospital Network, the hospitals within it and on the performance of private hospitals.

(4) No. See answer to (3) above.