On Friday 2 June, the Hon Mark Butler Federal Minister for Health, visited three members of Day Hospitals Australia at the Tennyson Centre in SA.
This was the result of a meeting the Minister attended earlier in the year with Jane Griffiths, CEO and A/Prof Philip Truskett, Board Chairman, where the Minister expressed a desire to gain a better understanding of the day hospital sector, requesting a tour of some of our day hospital members.
The Minister, being SA based was able to visit Tennyson Centre, where three of our member hospitals welcomed his visit:
- Nexus Tennyson Centre Day Hospital – Lee-Anne Crew, General Manager/DON
- ICON Cancer Care Centre – Helen Tedesco, Site Manager
- Lift Cancer Care Services, Lauren Whiting, CEO
Andrew Taylor, Day Hospitals Australia’s SA Member Director and the Tennyson Centre facility managers, escorted the Minister on tours of each day hospital. The hospital managers were able to give an overview of their services, a guide of the patient journey and discuss some of the challenges faced within their hospitals.
Following the tour, a round table discussion took place with Minister Butler, his advisor, Andrew Taylor and three day hospital managers to discuss the potential cost savings from PHI’s by using same day facilities, state based contracts from the health departments to assist with public wait lists, the ‘fit for purpose’ accreditation project underway by Day Hospitals Australia, the definition and terminology of a day hospital that differing state to state, and PHI reforms.
Day Hospitals Australia thanks all involved in facilitating a successful and informative tour for Minister Butler. Jane Griffiths will continue the conversations with the Minister and his Chief Advisor to continue advocating for the Day Hospital sector.
