❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health about the impact of potential FTE reductions on hospitals struggling with demand. The Minister denies FTE reductions and blames the previous government for inadequate hospital infrastructure.
AnsweredQoN 594Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH — UNFILLED VACANCIES
594. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for Health:
I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister accept that
hospitals are struggling at the moment under demand and that the health system
could not tolerate any reduction in FTEs if they are to continue to meet that
demand?
HEALTH — UNFILLED VACANCIES
594. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for Health:
I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister accept that
hospitals are struggling at the moment under demand and that the health system
could not tolerate any reduction in FTEs if they are to continue to meet that
demand?
AnswerView source ↗
Yes, I do. We do not have a reduction in FTEs. I do not think
the member was listening to the point I made. There is no reduction in FTEs.
The FTEs that we have are the FTEs that we need—that is why they are
there. We did not suddenly rush to employ different people in areas we need. We
go up and down all the time; I have made that point already. The member said
that the hospitals are struggling with demand—we are! And whose fault
is it? It is the previous government's fault. The previous government
should have built Fiona Stanley hospital and expanded Joondalup hospital at the
time we needed it. How do we know we need it? Because we have both done
clinical service frameworks that clearly outline exactly when we need beds in
the system. If the previous government had got them in the system when we
needed them in the system, then we would not have this trouble we are having
now.
the member was listening to the point I made. There is no reduction in FTEs.
The FTEs that we have are the FTEs that we need—that is why they are
there. We did not suddenly rush to employ different people in areas we need. We
go up and down all the time; I have made that point already. The member said
that the hospitals are struggling with demand—we are! And whose fault
is it? It is the previous government's fault. The previous government
should have built Fiona Stanley hospital and expanded Joondalup hospital at the
time we needed it. How do we know we need it? Because we have both done
clinical service frameworks that clearly outline exactly when we need beds in
the system. If the previous government had got them in the system when we
needed them in the system, then we would not have this trouble we are having
now.
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