❓ A parliamentary question regarding potential service closures at Northampton Hospital, prompted by the Premier's earlier assurances. The Minister responds by citing doctor shortages due to indemnity issues and ongoing efforts to maintain services.
AnsweredQoN 1048Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I must take a moment to stop laughing. I refer to the Premier’s unequivocal statement to this House on 27 February this year that the Government was not listing hospitals for closure. (1) Why is he breaking this promise and closing services at Northampton Hospital? (2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
I refer to the Premier’s unequivocal statement to this House on 27 February this year that the Government was not listing hospitals for closure. (1) Why is he breaking this promise and closing services at Northampton Hospital? (2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(1) Why is he breaking this promise and closing services at Northampton Hospital? (2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
I refer to the Premier’s unequivocal statement to this House on 27 February this year that the Government was not listing hospitals for closure. (1) Why is he breaking this promise and closing services at Northampton Hospital? (2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(1) Why is he breaking this promise and closing services at Northampton Hospital? (2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(2) What does he expect patients to do in Northampton during an emergency health crisis? (3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(3) Will he admit that his jargon in the other place in response to Hon Murray Criddle’s question yesterday with the words “contemporary and effective service delivery model” in reality translates to the need for people to make an hour-long trip to Geraldton, which could put lives at risk? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
(1)-(3) I am able to provide the member with some information about what is happening at the Northampton Hospital. However, I would have been able to provide more comprehensive information if I had been provided with some notice of the question. I will do my best under the circumstances. Medical services at Northampton Hospital are provided substantially by two general practitioners in the town. From memory, one is reasonably elderly and is scaling down his activity in the town. This occurred at a time when the medical indemnity issue arose some two months ago, and either one or two of the doctors have not signed the medical indemnity agreement, which is a condition of practising - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Both. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I thank the member. They have not signed the medical indemnity agreement which gives them practising rights at the hospital. As we speak, we are looking at ways to cover the lack of medical practitioners in the town to provide medical services at the hospital, particularly with a view to bringing in locums and the like from nearby areas such as Geraldton to properly maintain services at the hospital. The problem is that one of the doctors in that town is no longer providing services to the hospital and we are doing our best to deal with that. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the contemporary and effective service delivery model? Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: We need to look at the way in which that can best be configured. We do not have a plan for any changes at the hospital at the moment. Those matters are being looked at, because this matter has effectively been thrown up in our office in recent times. That exercise is currently being undertaken. I do not have a plan to significantly change things at the hospital, but we will have to look at what we can do in light of the effective withdrawal of services by the doctors. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: So Northampton Hospital is not looking forward to a reduction of services? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I have no plan, and I have not been briefed on it. We are going to look at what is in Northampton and ways in which services can be most effectively delivered.
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