❓ Opposition MP Kirkup questions Premier McGowan on increased ambulance ramping despite past concerns. McGowan deflects, citing past government failures, flu epidemic impact, and praises health workers.
AnsweredQoN 619Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AMBULANCE RAMPING
619. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
Can the Premier confirm that in
April 2015 he asked the then Minister for Health, Dr Kim Hames, about ambulance
ramping; I quote —
What can be more important than
getting people out of ambulances and into hospitals? What can be more
important, and yet it is not happening?
If that is the case, why has there
been a massive blowout in ambulance ramping under the Premier's government?
619. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
Can the Premier confirm that in
April 2015 he asked the then Minister for Health, Dr Kim Hames, about ambulance
ramping; I quote —
What can be more important than
getting people out of ambulances and into hospitals? What can be more
important, and yet it is not happening?
If that is the case, why has there
been a massive blowout in ambulance ramping under the Premier's government?
AnswerView source ↗
My recollection of the former
Minister for Health Dr Kim Hames is that when he sat right here and was asked a
question in relation to health, he said, ''I give up.'' That was
his answer. ''I give up,'' he said, ''it's all too
hard.'' That is my recollection of him. Under this government, we are
getting on with solving the problems. Who got the Perth Children's
Hospital open? We did. Remember the last government? It fluffed around for
years unable to resolve that issue. What happened under us? The Minister for
Health and the Treasurer stepped in, took control of the hospital, sorted out
the water, and got the children's hospital open—and now it is
working effectively and efficiently and providing great care for children
across Western Australia. There is a principal example of a government that has
solved a problem that the last government was unable to solve. The minister
next to me solved the issue of the bridge over the river. Remember that one? It
was languishing in a yard in Malaysia. We saw a photograph of bits of metal
lying on the ground.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I appreciate the Premier's rhetoric here, but this
is in relation to the Minister for Health and his performance.
The SPEAKER : It is a point of
order, and the Premier will get back to the topic, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is
a bit sensitive. Do not let me extrapolate. I wanted to extrapolate just a little
bit, go a little bit beyond, and give the member a bit of an education, because
I think he needs it. It is true that we are solving issues in every portfolio
in Western Australia. Under this government, mental health observation areas have been installed in hospitals across the state
to help deal with this issue. Obviously, we have undertaken a review of the ambulance service to examine these issues.
However, clearly, our state has been through the worst flu episode since
1919—the worst flu episode in 100 years and, very sadly, scores of
people have died as a consequence of that. That has had an impact on the
ambulance service and admissions into emergency departments. There is no
getting away from that. That is not a political point; it is a reality of what
we face. Clearly, it has been very difficult for the health system to deal with
because obviously it is very emotionally draining for staff when sometimes
children in their care pass away as a consequence of this extraordinary event,
the worst in 100 years. That is the sort of thing the health system has been
dealing with.
Personally, I think the health
system and the people working in our hospitals, our ambulances and the like
deserve our thanks and our congratulations.
I do not think they deserve to be criticised, as it appears the Liberal Party
is doing.
Minister for Health Dr Kim Hames is that when he sat right here and was asked a
question in relation to health, he said, ''I give up.'' That was
his answer. ''I give up,'' he said, ''it's all too
hard.'' That is my recollection of him. Under this government, we are
getting on with solving the problems. Who got the Perth Children's
Hospital open? We did. Remember the last government? It fluffed around for
years unable to resolve that issue. What happened under us? The Minister for
Health and the Treasurer stepped in, took control of the hospital, sorted out
the water, and got the children's hospital open—and now it is
working effectively and efficiently and providing great care for children
across Western Australia. There is a principal example of a government that has
solved a problem that the last government was unable to solve. The minister
next to me solved the issue of the bridge over the river. Remember that one? It
was languishing in a yard in Malaysia. We saw a photograph of bits of metal
lying on the ground.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I appreciate the Premier's rhetoric here, but this
is in relation to the Minister for Health and his performance.
The SPEAKER : It is a point of
order, and the Premier will get back to the topic, please.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member is
a bit sensitive. Do not let me extrapolate. I wanted to extrapolate just a little
bit, go a little bit beyond, and give the member a bit of an education, because
I think he needs it. It is true that we are solving issues in every portfolio
in Western Australia. Under this government, mental health observation areas have been installed in hospitals across the state
to help deal with this issue. Obviously, we have undertaken a review of the ambulance service to examine these issues.
However, clearly, our state has been through the worst flu episode since
1919—the worst flu episode in 100 years and, very sadly, scores of
people have died as a consequence of that. That has had an impact on the
ambulance service and admissions into emergency departments. There is no
getting away from that. That is not a political point; it is a reality of what
we face. Clearly, it has been very difficult for the health system to deal with
because obviously it is very emotionally draining for staff when sometimes
children in their care pass away as a consequence of this extraordinary event,
the worst in 100 years. That is the sort of thing the health system has been
dealing with.
Personally, I think the health
system and the people working in our hospitals, our ambulances and the like
deserve our thanks and our congratulations.
I do not think they deserve to be criticised, as it appears the Liberal Party
is doing.
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