❓ A WA parliamentarian questions the Minister for Health regarding the cessation of peritonectomy surgery in WA, the availability of a local surgeon, and the status of patients awaiting this surgery. The Minister responds, citing surgeon availability and ongoing discussions to reinstate the service.
AnsweredQoN 320Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PERITONECTOMY SURGERY
320. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to patients in Western
Australia with intra-abdominal cancers who are awaiting potentially life-saving
peritonectomy surgery, which the Department of Health stopped performing back
in late 2010.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that since the department stopped providing this surgery,
Western Australians have had this surgery undertaken in New South Wales, but
that state's health department may stop performing this type of surgery
on Western Australians because it has received no funding from the Western
Australian health department?
(2) Is the
minister aware that a qualified surgeon in Western Australia who has previously
performed this surgery is ready, willing and able to perform this type of
surgery from Joondalup Health Campus; and, if so, why can this service not be
funded from Joondalup?
(3) What is the
status of the 20 Western Australians still awaiting this urgent surgery; will
the minister immediately fast-track the approval of this surgery at Joondalup
Health Campus; and, if not, why not?
320. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to patients in Western
Australia with intra-abdominal cancers who are awaiting potentially life-saving
peritonectomy surgery, which the Department of Health stopped performing back
in late 2010.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that since the department stopped providing this surgery,
Western Australians have had this surgery undertaken in New South Wales, but
that state's health department may stop performing this type of surgery
on Western Australians because it has received no funding from the Western
Australian health department?
(2) Is the
minister aware that a qualified surgeon in Western Australia who has previously
performed this surgery is ready, willing and able to perform this type of
surgery from Joondalup Health Campus; and, if so, why can this service not be
funded from Joondalup?
(3) What is the
status of the 20 Western Australians still awaiting this urgent surgery; will
the minister immediately fast-track the approval of this surgery at Joondalup
Health Campus; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) The
Department of Health has not stopped this type of surgery because of a lack of
funding. Peritonectomy surgery is not currently performed in WA due to the
unavailability of a trained surgeon credentialled to provide the service.
(2) Yes. A local
trained surgeon was previously willing to undertake this service from Joondalup
Health Campus. This surgery should be carried out at a tertiary hospital.
Discussions were underway to explore how this service could be provided at a
public tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, the surgeon
involved in the discussions is now no longer available to provide this service.
(3) Western
Australians who require this treatment are currently treated at St George
Hospital in Sydney, as has been the case in the past. Costs for the patient
travel to Sydney are met by the Department of Health. Discussions are
continuing with the expert surgeon in Sydney, and others are continuing to
arrange for the surgery to be available in a metropolitan tertiary hospital in
the future.
of the question.
(1) The
Department of Health has not stopped this type of surgery because of a lack of
funding. Peritonectomy surgery is not currently performed in WA due to the
unavailability of a trained surgeon credentialled to provide the service.
(2) Yes. A local
trained surgeon was previously willing to undertake this service from Joondalup
Health Campus. This surgery should be carried out at a tertiary hospital.
Discussions were underway to explore how this service could be provided at a
public tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, the surgeon
involved in the discussions is now no longer available to provide this service.
(3) Western
Australians who require this treatment are currently treated at St George
Hospital in Sydney, as has been the case in the past. Costs for the patient
travel to Sydney are met by the Department of Health. Discussions are
continuing with the expert surgeon in Sydney, and others are continuing to
arrange for the surgery to be available in a metropolitan tertiary hospital in
the future.
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