Mr Waldron questions the Health Minister about funding for Princess Margaret Hospital's regional diabetes service. The Minister supports the service and guarantees the clinical needs of children in regional centres will be met.

AnsweredQoN 539Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 November 2001
Member
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, TRUST FUNDS
I refer to the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children trust funds that provide money for child diabetes teams to visit regional centres, including Albany, Wagin, Northam and Esperance. (1) Does the minister support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment? (2) Will the minister guarantee the funding of this service, given the uncertainty that surrounds the operation of hospital trust funds? Mr KUCERA

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The simple answer to both questions is yes. I support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment. I guarantee that the clinical needs of these children will continue to be met in the regional centres. The decision to continue the service under the current arrangements will be made by the clinical specialists at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. In addition, regional centres now have access to the newly developed integrated diabetes program. That will also continue to support the clinical needs of children in the regional centres. Like the member, I was concerned when I read the letter that was sent to some of his constituents. It was written by an individual doctor. He does not run the service; the Department of Health is responsible for running it and the Government will be responsible for funding it, if necessary.
(1) Does the minister support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment? (2) Will the minister guarantee the funding of this service, given the uncertainty that surrounds the operation of hospital trust funds? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The simple answer to both questions is yes. I support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment. I guarantee that the clinical needs of these children will continue to be met in the regional centres. The decision to continue the service under the current arrangements will be made by the clinical specialists at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. In addition, regional centres now have access to the newly developed integrated diabetes program. That will also continue to support the clinical needs of children in the regional centres. Like the member, I was concerned when I read the letter that was sent to some of his constituents. It was written by an individual doctor. He does not run the service; the Department of Health is responsible for running it and the Government will be responsible for funding it, if necessary.
(2) Will the minister guarantee the funding of this service, given the uncertainty that surrounds the operation of hospital trust funds? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The simple answer to both questions is yes. I support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment. I guarantee that the clinical needs of these children will continue to be met in the regional centres. The decision to continue the service under the current arrangements will be made by the clinical specialists at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. In addition, regional centres now have access to the newly developed integrated diabetes program. That will also continue to support the clinical needs of children in the regional centres. Like the member, I was concerned when I read the letter that was sent to some of his constituents. It was written by an individual doctor. He does not run the service; the Department of Health is responsible for running it and the Government will be responsible for funding it, if necessary.
Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The simple answer to both questions is yes. I support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment. I guarantee that the clinical needs of these children will continue to be met in the regional centres. The decision to continue the service under the current arrangements will be made by the clinical specialists at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. In addition, regional centres now have access to the newly developed integrated diabetes program. That will also continue to support the clinical needs of children in the regional centres. Like the member, I was concerned when I read the letter that was sent to some of his constituents. It was written by an individual doctor. He does not run the service; the Department of Health is responsible for running it and the Government will be responsible for funding it, if necessary.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of this question. The simple answer to both questions is yes. I support the goal of the PMH service of treating children in regional centres so that they and their families do not need to travel to Perth for treatment. I guarantee that the clinical needs of these children will continue to be met in the regional centres. The decision to continue the service under the current arrangements will be made by the clinical specialists at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. In addition, regional centres now have access to the newly developed integrated diabetes program. That will also continue to support the clinical needs of children in the regional centres. Like the member, I was concerned when I read the letter that was sent to some of his constituents. It was written by an individual doctor. He does not run the service; the Department of Health is responsible for running it and the Government will be responsible for funding it, if necessary.
Like the member, I was concerned when I read the letter that was sent to some of his constituents. It was written by an individual doctor. He does not run the service; the Department of Health is responsible for running it and the Government will be responsible for funding it, if necessary.

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