The Canberra Liberals will today call on health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith to guarantee that current staffing levels and standard of clinical services will be maintained at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce after Canberra Health Services’ takeover. 

Leanne Castley, Shadow Minister for Health, said she had “grilled” Ms Stephen-Smith in the Legislative Assembly over the past few weeks over her inability to publicly release and confirm whether the takeover would impact services and staff.

Senior doctors and nurses have written to all MLAs expressing their concerns about the impacts that the takeover will have on staffing and clinical safety, Ms Castley said.

• Calvary acquisition passes; Calvary approaches court (1 June)
• Why the ACT Government wants Calvary Public Hospital (1 June)
• Canberra Liberals: “You cannot trust this government…” (1 June)

• Nurses write open letter re acquisition of Calvary Public Hospital (27 May)
• AMA: ACT Government ignored Calvary doctors (22 May)
• Canberran protesters for and against Calvary acquisition (31 May)

“We know that only around 120 staff out of 1,800 had completed their transition forms as of 1 June,” Ms Castley said.

“The Health Minister has also confirmed that CHS has not requested any estimates or modelling on how many staff will transition from Calvary to CHS.

“Canberrans, patients, and Calvary staff have serious concerns that the Minister will not be able to complete this transition without impacts on staffing levels and clinical services.

“What is equally concerning is that the Minister has failed to outline any contingency plans if insufficient staff transfer, or legal action holds up its takeover.

“I would expect the Minister to be able to answer these simple questions to assure the community and Calvary staff that the government has plans to deal with these realistic possibilities.”

Project manager experts and stakeholders have raised doubts about the feasibility of the government’s planned acquisition date of 3 July.

“Canberrans and hard-working staff need and deserve certainty from the Minister that this compulsory acquisition will not unnecessarily impact work levels or healthcare services,” Ms Castley said.