❓ A parliamentary question regarding the death of Sheila Frith and its link to surgery waiting lists, with the Minister responding by highlighting efforts to reduce waiting times and improve emergency surgery processes.
AnsweredQoN 240Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SHEILA FRITH - STATE CORONER’S FINDINGS
I refer to the findings of the State Coroner on the case of Sheila Frith, whose tragic death the coroner linked to the state of surgery waiting lists. Why does the minister continue to pursue a smoke and mirrors campaign to spin figures and hide the true state of the crisis in our health system when the consequences of such a disingenuous approach to this vital portfolio can be so tragic? Mr J.A. McGINTY
I refer to the findings of the State Coroner on the case of Sheila Frith, whose tragic death the coroner linked to the state of surgery waiting lists. Why does the minister continue to pursue a smoke and mirrors campaign to spin figures and hide the true state of the crisis in our health system when the consequences of such a disingenuous approach to this vital portfolio can be so tragic? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
The death of Sheila Frith was a tragedy. It is one that, arguably, should not have occurred and I accept the coroner’s comments. The real question when tragedies like this occur is: what are we doing about them? This was a death that occurred in 2005. Over the past several years we have put in a tremendous effort in trying to reduce both the length of time and number of people waiting for surgery in Western Australia. The truth of the matter is, notwithstanding what others might assert, that the waiting time for elective surgery in Western Australia has been slashed by one-third. The number of people on the waiting list has been slashed. When the opposition was in government, the number of people on the waiting list was just over 20 000. Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: The death of Sheila Frith was a tragedy. It is one that, arguably, should not have occurred and I accept the coroner’s comments. The real question when tragedies like this occur is: what are we doing about them? This was a death that occurred in 2005. Over the past several years we have put in a tremendous effort in trying to reduce both the length of time and number of people waiting for surgery in Western Australia. The truth of the matter is, notwithstanding what others might assert, that the waiting time for elective surgery in Western Australia has been slashed by one-third. The number of people on the waiting list has been slashed. When the opposition was in government, the number of people on the waiting list was just over 20 000. Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
The death of Sheila Frith was a tragedy. It is one that, arguably, should not have occurred and I accept the coroner’s comments. The real question when tragedies like this occur is: what are we doing about them? This was a death that occurred in 2005. Over the past several years we have put in a tremendous effort in trying to reduce both the length of time and number of people waiting for surgery in Western Australia. The truth of the matter is, notwithstanding what others might assert, that the waiting time for elective surgery in Western Australia has been slashed by one-third. The number of people on the waiting list has been slashed. When the opposition was in government, the number of people on the waiting list was just over 20 000. Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: The death of Sheila Frith was a tragedy. It is one that, arguably, should not have occurred and I accept the coroner’s comments. The real question when tragedies like this occur is: what are we doing about them? This was a death that occurred in 2005. Over the past several years we have put in a tremendous effort in trying to reduce both the length of time and number of people waiting for surgery in Western Australia. The truth of the matter is, notwithstanding what others might assert, that the waiting time for elective surgery in Western Australia has been slashed by one-third. The number of people on the waiting list has been slashed. When the opposition was in government, the number of people on the waiting list was just over 20 000. Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
The death of Sheila Frith was a tragedy. It is one that, arguably, should not have occurred and I accept the coroner’s comments. The real question when tragedies like this occur is: what are we doing about them? This was a death that occurred in 2005. Over the past several years we have put in a tremendous effort in trying to reduce both the length of time and number of people waiting for surgery in Western Australia. The truth of the matter is, notwithstanding what others might assert, that the waiting time for elective surgery in Western Australia has been slashed by one-third. The number of people on the waiting list has been slashed. When the opposition was in government, the number of people on the waiting list was just over 20 000. Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Dr K.D. Hames : That is a smoke and mirrors answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me give the member the figures on a comparable basis. When the opposition was in power, more than 20 000 people were waiting for five months for elective surgery. We now have fewer than 14 000 people. It is still too many, but, nonetheless, a dramatic reduction from the more than 20 000 people when the opposition was in office. Now, fewer than 14 000 people are waiting just over three months for surgery. Both the number of people waiting for surgery and the time that they are waiting has been slashed by about a third. That is my first point. It is necessary to do that so that we do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time for surgery, which used to be the case. I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
I remember that when I occupied the position now occupied by the member for Dawesville, I would on a regular basis raise cases involving people who had been waiting three, four or five years for elective surgery. That is a thing of the past. We do not find people like that any longer. Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Dr K.D. Hames : Now they wait for two years to get on the list and two years for their surgery. Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is not true. The member should not get too excited about that. We do not have people waiting an inordinate length of time, which is what once was the case. I know that all too well. In terms of waiting for surgery, there has been a one-third cut in time and the number of people waiting over the past couple of years, and that is very significant. It will go a long way towards ensuring that a tragedy such as that that occurred does not occur again. My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
My second point relates, again, to surgery. We have been involved in very intensive discussions with surgeons working in the public system, particularly general surgeons who operate the emergency roster. We are now in the process of concluding both with them and anaesthetists an agreement that will significantly reshape the way in which theatres are made available, surgeons are rostered on call and emergency surgery is done, including dedicated emergency surgery, so that, hopefully, we can, for the first time, get it right when it comes to emergency surgery. There has been a very difficult set of negotiations over a long period in respect of both general surgeons and anaesthetists. I hope that that will bring about significant improvements for the future.
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