A parliamentary question addresses a dispute with local doctors impacting services at Northampton Hospital and seeks assurance about maintaining and improving services despite declining usage. The Minister acknowledges the issue and highlights efforts to resolve the contractual indemnity issue with the doctors, while also pointing to a broader review of rural health services.

AnsweredQoN 1199Legislative Council
Asked
9 September 2003
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Considering that the Northampton Hospital has a large catchment area to the north and east, when will the dispute with local doctors be finalised to allow doctors to fully service that facility? (2) Will the minister guarantee that all services in the Northampton Hospital will be maintained and, with further population growth, improved? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) There is one medical practice in Northampton consisting of a practice principal and his employee. The practice principal has declined the offer of contractual indemnity that would enable him and his employed doctor to keep working at the hospital as visiting medical practitioners. Efforts are under way to secure these doctors’ services so that following a resolution of their contractual indemnity issue, both can recommence providing services for public patients at the hospital. (2) An examination of the utilisation of the acute emergency department and admitted patient services provided by the Northampton Hospital clearly shows that use has been steadily declining for some time. The country health services review in January 2003 identified a significant mismatch between the available health resources, current modes of service delivery, and the modern day health needs experienced in communities. The long-term viability and sustainability of rural and regional services requires the development of more contemporary and effective service delivery models in consultation with the local communities.
(2) Will the minister guarantee that all services in the Northampton Hospital will be maintained and, with further population growth, improved? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) There is one medical practice in Northampton consisting of a practice principal and his employee. The practice principal has declined the offer of contractual indemnity that would enable him and his employed doctor to keep working at the hospital as visiting medical practitioners. Efforts are under way to secure these doctors’ services so that following a resolution of their contractual indemnity issue, both can recommence providing services for public patients at the hospital. (2) An examination of the utilisation of the acute emergency department and admitted patient services provided by the Northampton Hospital clearly shows that use has been steadily declining for some time. The country health services review in January 2003 identified a significant mismatch between the available health resources, current modes of service delivery, and the modern day health needs experienced in communities. The long-term viability and sustainability of rural and regional services requires the development of more contemporary and effective service delivery models in consultation with the local communities.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) There is one medical practice in Northampton consisting of a practice principal and his employee. The practice principal has declined the offer of contractual indemnity that would enable him and his employed doctor to keep working at the hospital as visiting medical practitioners. Efforts are under way to secure these doctors’ services so that following a resolution of their contractual indemnity issue, both can recommence providing services for public patients at the hospital. (2) An examination of the utilisation of the acute emergency department and admitted patient services provided by the Northampton Hospital clearly shows that use has been steadily declining for some time. The country health services review in January 2003 identified a significant mismatch between the available health resources, current modes of service delivery, and the modern day health needs experienced in communities. The long-term viability and sustainability of rural and regional services requires the development of more contemporary and effective service delivery models in consultation with the local communities.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) There is one medical practice in Northampton consisting of a practice principal and his employee. The practice principal has declined the offer of contractual indemnity that would enable him and his employed doctor to keep working at the hospital as visiting medical practitioners. Efforts are under way to secure these doctors’ services so that following a resolution of their contractual indemnity issue, both can recommence providing services for public patients at the hospital. (2) An examination of the utilisation of the acute emergency department and admitted patient services provided by the Northampton Hospital clearly shows that use has been steadily declining for some time. The country health services review in January 2003 identified a significant mismatch between the available health resources, current modes of service delivery, and the modern day health needs experienced in communities. The long-term viability and sustainability of rural and regional services requires the development of more contemporary and effective service delivery models in consultation with the local communities.
(1) There is one medical practice in Northampton consisting of a practice principal and his employee. The practice principal has declined the offer of contractual indemnity that would enable him and his employed doctor to keep working at the hospital as visiting medical practitioners. Efforts are under way to secure these doctors’ services so that following a resolution of their contractual indemnity issue, both can recommence providing services for public patients at the hospital. (2) An examination of the utilisation of the acute emergency department and admitted patient services provided by the Northampton Hospital clearly shows that use has been steadily declining for some time. The country health services review in January 2003 identified a significant mismatch between the available health resources, current modes of service delivery, and the modern day health needs experienced in communities. The long-term viability and sustainability of rural and regional services requires the development of more contemporary and effective service delivery models in consultation with the local communities.
(2) An examination of the utilisation of the acute emergency department and admitted patient services provided by the Northampton Hospital clearly shows that use has been steadily declining for some time. The country health services review in January 2003 identified a significant mismatch between the available health resources, current modes of service delivery, and the modern day health needs experienced in communities. The long-term viability and sustainability of rural and regional services requires the development of more contemporary and effective service delivery models in consultation with the local communities.

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