❓ Mrs. Stojkovski asks about the benefits of the new women's and babies' hospital for northern suburbs and potential project delivery risks. The Minister responds by highlighting the government's commitment, the inadequacies of the existing hospital, and criticizes the opposition's alternative plans.
AnsweredQoN 899Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WOMEN'S AND BABIES' HOSPITAL
899. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to building the new women's and babies' hospital.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the new women's and babies'
hospital project, which will include expanded services throughout Perth, will
benefit women in the northern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of any risks to the delivery of
this project?
899. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to building the new women's and babies' hospital.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the new women's and babies'
hospital project, which will include expanded services throughout Perth, will
benefit women in the northern suburbs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of any risks to the delivery of
this project?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Kingsley for the question.
I know she is a very strong advocate for access to a broad range of
maternity and birthing options, as well as reproductive rights for women in Western
Australia.
The
Labor government is very proud to be delivering the brand new women's
and babies' hospital at the brand new site in Murdoch. We know
that King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women is well past its safe use-by date.
It is 100 years old. It was ahead of its time 100 years ago, when Edith Cowan
and May Holman took the brave step of supporting women in childbirth with a dedicated
women's and children's hospital, but it is now well and truly
past its time. We also know that Osborne Park is perfectly placed for a major
expansion to support the inner northeastern suburbs. Our plan will be better
for women who birth in the northern suburbs. They will have greater access to a
range of choices, including a brand new family birthing centre, a mother's
and babies' unit for women experiencing mental health issues
immediately post-birth, and more maternity access. Higher risk women will also
be able to birth there, including those who will need to go straight into a neonatal
intensive care unit.
There will also be a brand new women's
and babies' hospital at Murdoch, which has now been endorsed by the
Royal Flying Doctor Service as being better for women and babies in regional Western
Australia who have to transfer. There will
be brand new neonatal beds at Perth Children's Hospital and 2 000 new
car bays at Fiona Stanley Hospital, because we know how constrained the
Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site is. If you have ever sought to access
Perth Children's Hospital with a grumbly, unwell toddler in the back and you do not want to call an ambulance, you
know how difficult it is. We know why that is difficult : it is because
of a contract signed by the former government that will constrain parking at
that site for years and years to come.
We have seen mountains of evidence
for the government's plan, and the government has been open and
transparent with the community about where we are building and why. We have
tabled the business case and the Infrastructure WA report. Personal briefings
have been offered to the Leader of the Liberal Party by the director general of
the Department of Health. During estimates hearings, the director general outlined
the potential for disruption and risk at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and
Perth Children's Hospital. There has also been evidence from leading
neonatologists, who have trashed the Leader of the Liberal Party's
claims of death and disability. I refer also the clinical consultation report
and the support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, yet —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : —
the Liberal Party continues to rely on a small group for advice, and on
unendorsed material, to dictate its policies —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, please come to order!
Ms A. SANDERSON : — instead
of broadly consulting with the sector, which is what the government does. It
consults with everyone before it makes decisions. We know that the Leader of
the Liberal Party has said she wants to make
this election about maternity services. We are ready. We are ready with our
plans. Where are her plans? We are ready with what we are taking to the
community. We have been very open with the community. The Leader of the Liberal
Party needs to explain how she made that decision, who she has listened to and
how her party intends to deliver a hospital on an already constrained site.
Where will she relocate the outpatient services currently run in G block? Which
elective surgery will she scale down and cancel? How will she guarantee access
to emergency departments at the children's hospital and Sir Charles
Gairdner Hospital?
Ms M.M. Quirk : When is she
going to shut up?
The SPEAKER : Member for
Landsdale, I hope there are no further interjections from you during question
time. Thank you.
Ms A. SANDERSON : The
community has seen for the last eight years, and it sees now, is that the
Liberal Party is void on ideas and policies. It is at war with itself and its
coalition partners. It is afraid to make decisions. The member for Vasse, the
Leader of the Liberal Party, needs to come clean on how she will deliver that
hospital at QEII. The time is now. The so-called party of business is seeking
to undermine investment in Western Australia and the economic success. All of
that economic success allows us to build this new infrastructure. It is time to
be up-front and come clean. Is she going to cancel the Osborne Park Hospital
expansion? It is time to be honest with the community of the northern suburbs.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Ms A. SANDERSON : The time is
now for the Leader of the Liberal Party to be honest and up-front about what
she will do with Osborne Park Hospital and the Murdoch site. The community is
waiting.
I know she is a very strong advocate for access to a broad range of
maternity and birthing options, as well as reproductive rights for women in Western
Australia.
The
Labor government is very proud to be delivering the brand new women's
and babies' hospital at the brand new site in Murdoch. We know
that King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women is well past its safe use-by date.
It is 100 years old. It was ahead of its time 100 years ago, when Edith Cowan
and May Holman took the brave step of supporting women in childbirth with a dedicated
women's and children's hospital, but it is now well and truly
past its time. We also know that Osborne Park is perfectly placed for a major
expansion to support the inner northeastern suburbs. Our plan will be better
for women who birth in the northern suburbs. They will have greater access to a
range of choices, including a brand new family birthing centre, a mother's
and babies' unit for women experiencing mental health issues
immediately post-birth, and more maternity access. Higher risk women will also
be able to birth there, including those who will need to go straight into a neonatal
intensive care unit.
There will also be a brand new women's
and babies' hospital at Murdoch, which has now been endorsed by the
Royal Flying Doctor Service as being better for women and babies in regional Western
Australia who have to transfer. There will
be brand new neonatal beds at Perth Children's Hospital and 2 000 new
car bays at Fiona Stanley Hospital, because we know how constrained the
Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site is. If you have ever sought to access
Perth Children's Hospital with a grumbly, unwell toddler in the back and you do not want to call an ambulance, you
know how difficult it is. We know why that is difficult : it is because
of a contract signed by the former government that will constrain parking at
that site for years and years to come.
We have seen mountains of evidence
for the government's plan, and the government has been open and
transparent with the community about where we are building and why. We have
tabled the business case and the Infrastructure WA report. Personal briefings
have been offered to the Leader of the Liberal Party by the director general of
the Department of Health. During estimates hearings, the director general outlined
the potential for disruption and risk at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and
Perth Children's Hospital. There has also been evidence from leading
neonatologists, who have trashed the Leader of the Liberal Party's
claims of death and disability. I refer also the clinical consultation report
and the support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, yet —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms A. SANDERSON : —
the Liberal Party continues to rely on a small group for advice, and on
unendorsed material, to dictate its policies —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, please come to order!
Ms A. SANDERSON : — instead
of broadly consulting with the sector, which is what the government does. It
consults with everyone before it makes decisions. We know that the Leader of
the Liberal Party has said she wants to make
this election about maternity services. We are ready. We are ready with our
plans. Where are her plans? We are ready with what we are taking to the
community. We have been very open with the community. The Leader of the Liberal
Party needs to explain how she made that decision, who she has listened to and
how her party intends to deliver a hospital on an already constrained site.
Where will she relocate the outpatient services currently run in G block? Which
elective surgery will she scale down and cancel? How will she guarantee access
to emergency departments at the children's hospital and Sir Charles
Gairdner Hospital?
Ms M.M. Quirk : When is she
going to shut up?
The SPEAKER : Member for
Landsdale, I hope there are no further interjections from you during question
time. Thank you.
Ms A. SANDERSON : The
community has seen for the last eight years, and it sees now, is that the
Liberal Party is void on ideas and policies. It is at war with itself and its
coalition partners. It is afraid to make decisions. The member for Vasse, the
Leader of the Liberal Party, needs to come clean on how she will deliver that
hospital at QEII. The time is now. The so-called party of business is seeking
to undermine investment in Western Australia and the economic success. All of
that economic success allows us to build this new infrastructure. It is time to
be up-front and come clean. Is she going to cancel the Osborne Park Hospital
expansion? It is time to be honest with the community of the northern suburbs.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Ms A. SANDERSON : The time is
now for the Leader of the Liberal Party to be honest and up-front about what
she will do with Osborne Park Hospital and the Murdoch site. The community is
waiting.
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