❓ Hon Martin Pritchard questions the Minister for Health about the potential closure of eye clinics at Royal Perth and Rockingham General Hospitals and the relocation of services to Fremantle Hospital, raising concerns about patient travel times. The Minister confirms the Rockingham relocation but denies a decision for Royal Perth, citing improved care and transport assistance.
AnsweredQoN 73Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EYE CLINICS — RELOCATION
73. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Can the
minister confirm that he intends to close the eye clinics at Royal Perth
Hospital and Rockingham General Hospital and relocate these services to
Fremantle Hospital?
(2) If yes to
(1), given that the Royal Perth Hospital catchment area extends to the Avon Valley,
and the Rockingham area extends as far as Secret Harbour, why are patients in
these areas being forced to travel up to two hours to attend these clinics?
(3) Will the
minister reconsider this decision; and, if not, why not?
73. Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Can the
minister confirm that he intends to close the eye clinics at Royal Perth
Hospital and Rockingham General Hospital and relocate these services to
Fremantle Hospital?
(2) If yes to
(1), given that the Royal Perth Hospital catchment area extends to the Avon Valley,
and the Rockingham area extends as far as Secret Harbour, why are patients in
these areas being forced to travel up to two hours to attend these clinics?
(3) Will the
minister reconsider this decision; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) No decision
has been made in relation to Royal Perth Hospital. Ophthalmology services at
Rockingham General Hospital are being consolidated to Fremantle Hospital.
(2) The decision
to relocate the service from Rockingham General Hospital to Fremantle Hospital
is to create a centre of excellence that will ensure patients receive the
highest quality of care. In taking this decision, consideration was given to
the impact on patients, including travel time. Most importantly, the Fremantle
Hospital patient transport service is being made available to patients whose
appointments have been shifted from Rockingham to Fremantle. Eligible patients
will also be able to access assistance with transport through the patient
assisted travel scheme.
(3) No. It is
intended that, as a specialist hospital, Fremantle Hospital will focus on
performing high volume, low acuity surgery which will allow Rockingham General
Hospital to focus on providing procedures for patients with more urgent
conditions.
some notice of this question.
(1) No decision
has been made in relation to Royal Perth Hospital. Ophthalmology services at
Rockingham General Hospital are being consolidated to Fremantle Hospital.
(2) The decision
to relocate the service from Rockingham General Hospital to Fremantle Hospital
is to create a centre of excellence that will ensure patients receive the
highest quality of care. In taking this decision, consideration was given to
the impact on patients, including travel time. Most importantly, the Fremantle
Hospital patient transport service is being made available to patients whose
appointments have been shifted from Rockingham to Fremantle. Eligible patients
will also be able to access assistance with transport through the patient
assisted travel scheme.
(3) No. It is
intended that, as a specialist hospital, Fremantle Hospital will focus on
performing high volume, low acuity surgery which will allow Rockingham General
Hospital to focus on providing procedures for patients with more urgent
conditions.
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