Public to get first look at new hospital as unions step up fight
Canberra will get its first look at the city's new rehabilitation hospital on Saturday, but unions will be trying to ruin the government's party.
The University of Canberra Rehabilitation Hospital will streamline the ACT's rehabilitation services in one new facility.
It includes specially designed features to support recovery, including a hydrotherapy pool, rehabilitation courtyards, gymnasiums and kitchens. At full capacity, it will have 140 overnight inpatient beds, 75-day places and additional outpatient services
The facility is hosting an open day for the public today in the lead-up to the first patients being admitted in mid-July.
But worryingly for unions almost all non clinical roles - including cleaners, food services, wardspersons, security, administration and cleaners - will be filled by external contractors and not ACT Health staff.
The hospital's bosses deny this will have any impact on patients' experiences but unions insist it will lead to poorer wages and conditions for staff and poorer provision of services for patients.
United Voice secretary Lyndal Ryan accused the Labor government of being hypocritical for slamming conservative governments for wage freezes but allowing low paid workers to lose rights.
United Voice will lead a protest at the open day today urging the government to properly fund workers' contracts.
Ms Ryan said the use of contractors and the underfunding of the contacts by government meant workers would be paid less than their public counterparts at The Canberra Hospital.
"Those wages are so low they cannot afford health care," she said.
"They won't be able to afford dental care, get tests done, we've got members who aren't even able to get prescriptions filled.
"[The government] wants to suck up the glory of opening up new hospital to attract positive meda without taking any responsibility for staff to deliver the service."
Executive director of commissioning at the hospital Linda Kohlhagen said she hoped the unprecedented level of contractors would not affect patient care.
"We have integrated and involved our service providers in our training programs," she said.
"We are committed to working collaboratively together so patients won't feel any different."
She said the hospital would lead to better and more convenient services for rehabilitation patients.
"For example at the moment if you've had a stroke, you have occupational therapy in the community but then if you need to see a neuropsychologist those services are at Canberra Hospital," Ms Kohlhagen said.
"By bringing them all together it will be a more comprehensive approach and hopefully less travelling."
Director of Allied Health, Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care Todd Kaye said brining all rehabilitation staff and services under one roof was exciting.
"I think patients will be appreciate that it's been specifically designed for sub acute care," he said.
"There's a noticeable difference between what's in the new facility and what's at Canberra Hospital."
The new hospital will see mental health rehabilitation beds transferred from Brian Hennessy House to the campus.
Operations director for specialty mental health David Jackson-Hope said the hospital would allow for more individualised care plans and access to more staff.
It will include art therapy, the ability to teach life skills such as cooking and work towards integration back into the community.
"We’re very excited from a mental health point of view because we can provide targeted mental health intervention."