Hon Barry House questions the Health Minister regarding the renewal of visiting medical practitioner agreements in the south west health area, specifically concerning contract lengths and promises made in 2002. The Minister's response indicates contract renewals are not guaranteed and will be based on clinical needs.

AnsweredQoN 613Legislative Council
Asked
13 September 2005
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the visiting medical practitioner agreements which were introduced in the south west health area in 2002 and which expire on 30 September this year. (1) Will doctors who signed these agreements be offered a three-year contract renewal, as promised in the original letter they received in 2002? (2) If not, why not? (3) Are all doctors being offered the same length of contract renewal from 1 October 2005? (4) If not, why not? (5) What are the shortest and longest terms of contract renewal being offered? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
(1) Will doctors who signed these agreements be offered a three-year contract renewal, as promised in the original letter they received in 2002? (2) If not, why not? (3) Are all doctors being offered the same length of contract renewal from 1 October 2005? (4) If not, why not? (5) What are the shortest and longest terms of contract renewal being offered? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
(2) If not, why not? (3) Are all doctors being offered the same length of contract renewal from 1 October 2005? (4) If not, why not? (5) What are the shortest and longest terms of contract renewal being offered? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
(3) Are all doctors being offered the same length of contract renewal from 1 October 2005? (4) If not, why not? (5) What are the shortest and longest terms of contract renewal being offered? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
(4) If not, why not? (5) What are the shortest and longest terms of contract renewal being offered? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
(5) What are the shortest and longest terms of contract renewal being offered? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.
(1)-(5) The existing medical services agreement contracts will expire on 30 September 2005. There is no legal obligation to extend the contract beyond the expiry date unless clause 7.6, option to renew, is invoked. When the option to renew has not been invoked, new contracts will be developed that may vary in length of time to meet clinical needs.

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