❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier's motives for relocating the Women's and Babies' Hospital, alleging political expediency over clinical advice. The Premier defends the decision, citing expert advice on risks and delays, and accuses the opposition of delaying the project.
AnsweredQoN 782Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WOMEN'S
AND BABIES' HOSPITAL — RELOCATION
782. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Is
the Premier's refusal to listen to world-leading advice of WA
clinicians simply due to the Premier's political motivation to open
this facility before the 2029 election?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, it is
lovely that so many people are having so much fun in question time, but we will
not get many questions up if we continue to have these interruptions.
AND BABIES' HOSPITAL — RELOCATION
782. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Is
the Premier's refusal to listen to world-leading advice of WA
clinicians simply due to the Premier's political motivation to open
this facility before the 2029 election?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, it is
lovely that so many people are having so much fun in question time, but we will
not get many questions up if we continue to have these interruptions.
AnswerView source ↗
This is not a question of elections;
this is a question of developing world-class health facilities and the
provision of care for Western Australians in a timely fashion. Experts have
said to us that if we continue to develop the women's
and babies' hospital on top of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, it will
represent an unacceptable risk for the patients at both the children's
hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. It would also cause significant
disruption and delay for the commissioning of the new women's and
babies' hospital by between 10 and 20 years. That is what the experts are saying. We obviously care
about what the clinicians say, which is the reason that we are having this extensive consultation process around obstetric, maternity and
gynaecological services right across the state. We want to make that happen.
Ms L. Mettam : They don't
agree with you.
Mr R.H. COOK : It is important
that we understand their concerns and work with them to make sure that we can
take them on board, but I caution the member that not all clinicians are
thinking in the way that she nominates. There are others, including
neonatologists across the state, who disagree with those who say that we cannot
have the women's and babies' hospital at Fiona Stanley
Hospital. We have to accept that there is not a unanimous view out there in
relation to this.
I draw the member's
attention to her comments in a press conference earlier today when she was
asked, ''So it wouldn't be completed until 2040'',
referring to the new women's and babies' hospital, ''Are
you okay with that outcome?'' The member for Vasse said, ''The
concern, as Roger Cook stated in 2019, is just because this process is
challenging does not mean it cannot be pursued.'' There we have it. The
member for Vasse is clearly committing the Liberal Party to making Western Australians
wait at least 20 years for the new women's and babies'
hospital. She might as well say that she has pretty much cancelled it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr R.H. COOK : I will leave
this other thought with the member for Vasse. I remember there was a time when the
Liberals and Nationals would actually listen to Clive Palmer before they
listened to health advice. They are coming to this party particularly late. It
is important to remember that we want to make sure that the people of Western Australia
have a new women's and babies' hospital in the speediest
possible time. The way to do that is by taking on the best technical and
clinical advice to ensure that we can do that at the Fiona Stanley Hospital
site.
It means better services for
regional mothers who will have to be evacuated to the new hospital because it
will be closer to Jandakot Airport. It is a good
outcome for the more than 3 600 babies that are born at Fiona Stanley Hospital today. Fiona Stanley Hospital has the highest intensive care capabilities in
the state and it is important that we take all views on board.
I conclude by saying that we
understand the anxieties that this is causing, and the concerns of our clinical
teams. We admire their work and we greatly respect their skills and expertise.
We will continue to talk to them about how we
can best ensure that Western Australians enjoy some of the best maternity,
paediatric and gynaecological services that
this state can provide. We will continue to listen to them and work with them
as we work through these complex and difficult issues, but we will
deliver a new women's and babies' hospital to the people of Western
Australia in the fastest possible time.
this is a question of developing world-class health facilities and the
provision of care for Western Australians in a timely fashion. Experts have
said to us that if we continue to develop the women's
and babies' hospital on top of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, it will
represent an unacceptable risk for the patients at both the children's
hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. It would also cause significant
disruption and delay for the commissioning of the new women's and
babies' hospital by between 10 and 20 years. That is what the experts are saying. We obviously care
about what the clinicians say, which is the reason that we are having this extensive consultation process around obstetric, maternity and
gynaecological services right across the state. We want to make that happen.
Ms L. Mettam : They don't
agree with you.
Mr R.H. COOK : It is important
that we understand their concerns and work with them to make sure that we can
take them on board, but I caution the member that not all clinicians are
thinking in the way that she nominates. There are others, including
neonatologists across the state, who disagree with those who say that we cannot
have the women's and babies' hospital at Fiona Stanley
Hospital. We have to accept that there is not a unanimous view out there in
relation to this.
I draw the member's
attention to her comments in a press conference earlier today when she was
asked, ''So it wouldn't be completed until 2040'',
referring to the new women's and babies' hospital, ''Are
you okay with that outcome?'' The member for Vasse said, ''The
concern, as Roger Cook stated in 2019, is just because this process is
challenging does not mean it cannot be pursued.'' There we have it. The
member for Vasse is clearly committing the Liberal Party to making Western Australians
wait at least 20 years for the new women's and babies'
hospital. She might as well say that she has pretty much cancelled it.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr R.H. COOK : I will leave
this other thought with the member for Vasse. I remember there was a time when the
Liberals and Nationals would actually listen to Clive Palmer before they
listened to health advice. They are coming to this party particularly late. It
is important to remember that we want to make sure that the people of Western Australia
have a new women's and babies' hospital in the speediest
possible time. The way to do that is by taking on the best technical and
clinical advice to ensure that we can do that at the Fiona Stanley Hospital
site.
It means better services for
regional mothers who will have to be evacuated to the new hospital because it
will be closer to Jandakot Airport. It is a good
outcome for the more than 3 600 babies that are born at Fiona Stanley Hospital today. Fiona Stanley Hospital has the highest intensive care capabilities in
the state and it is important that we take all views on board.
I conclude by saying that we
understand the anxieties that this is causing, and the concerns of our clinical
teams. We admire their work and we greatly respect their skills and expertise.
We will continue to talk to them about how we
can best ensure that Western Australians enjoy some of the best maternity,
paediatric and gynaecological services that
this state can provide. We will continue to listen to them and work with them
as we work through these complex and difficult issues, but we will
deliver a new women's and babies' hospital to the people of Western
Australia in the fastest possible time.
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