❓ St John of God Midland Public Hospital—Critical incident review 24. Ms Libby Mettam to the Minister for Health : I refer to the young mother who was forced to deliver her baby on the side of the road
AnsweredQoN 24Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
St John of God Midland Public Hospital—Critical
incident review
24. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health :
I refer to the young
mother who was forced to deliver her baby on the side of the road on the
Kwinana Freeway after being turned away from St John of God Midland Public
Hospital.
(1) Does the minister share the Premier's view
that the private sector and population growth are to blame for what they
experienced?
(2) Has the minister found out why they were told
to go to Rockingham General Hospital when they were at Midland Hospital for
several hours?
incident review
24. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health :
I refer to the young
mother who was forced to deliver her baby on the side of the road on the
Kwinana Freeway after being turned away from St John of God Midland Public
Hospital.
(1) Does the minister share the Premier's view
that the private sector and population growth are to blame for what they
experienced?
(2) Has the minister found out why they were told
to go to Rockingham General Hospital when they were at Midland Hospital for
several hours?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question.
I have already said publicly
that I was very disappointed to hear of Lena and Abdul's experience. I have
already apologised for the distress that that experience would have caused
them. It is my view, and the view of this government, that every Western Australian
family deserves to feel safe during the birth of their children or child. I
expect incidents of this nature will be and are treated with the utmost
seriousness. I am advised that there is a review of that incident being
undertaken by St John of God in Midland. I am advised that that work has been
finalised. The results of that will be shared with the family. It is important,
firstly, to underline how important those reviews of critical incidents are so
that we can understand what occurred and, in particular, look for opportunities
to prevent that happening again. It is also important that the family have the opportunity
to understand that review and its findings. That advice will happen at a time
that is convenient to the family. Subsequent to that, of course, it is
appropriate that I will also receive those recommendations and make findings.
I want to say, member, that we
have already asked our State Health Operations Centre to expand its scope to
include managing demand for public maternity services so that it will play a
more active role in ensuring that people who are seeking maternity services are
able to receive the appropriate care in the most sensible location. It will
mean greater and more active oversight, particularly of our state's public
maternity system, both for patients and ensuring that ambulances are sent to
the most appropriate care setting as well. That work has already happened. As I
said, there is an investigation. The engagement with the family is an important
part of that. Once the family has had the opportunity to engage with St John of
God Midland, then obviously I will be as well.
question.
I have already said publicly
that I was very disappointed to hear of Lena and Abdul's experience. I have
already apologised for the distress that that experience would have caused
them. It is my view, and the view of this government, that every Western Australian
family deserves to feel safe during the birth of their children or child. I
expect incidents of this nature will be and are treated with the utmost
seriousness. I am advised that there is a review of that incident being
undertaken by St John of God in Midland. I am advised that that work has been
finalised. The results of that will be shared with the family. It is important,
firstly, to underline how important those reviews of critical incidents are so
that we can understand what occurred and, in particular, look for opportunities
to prevent that happening again. It is also important that the family have the opportunity
to understand that review and its findings. That advice will happen at a time
that is convenient to the family. Subsequent to that, of course, it is
appropriate that I will also receive those recommendations and make findings.
I want to say, member, that we
have already asked our State Health Operations Centre to expand its scope to
include managing demand for public maternity services so that it will play a
more active role in ensuring that people who are seeking maternity services are
able to receive the appropriate care in the most sensible location. It will
mean greater and more active oversight, particularly of our state's public
maternity system, both for patients and ensuring that ambulances are sent to
the most appropriate care setting as well. That work has already happened. As I
said, there is an investigation. The engagement with the family is an important
part of that. Once the family has had the opportunity to engage with St John of
God Midland, then obviously I will be as well.
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