❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding leaked documents from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the investigation into Dr. Shehatha's surgical competence, and the allocation of cases within the cardiothoracic unit. The Minister deflects, questioning Mr. Cook's credibility and stating reliance on information from hospital staff.
AnsweredQoN 913Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SIR CHARLES GAIRDNER HOSPITAL — MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY RATES — LEAKED DOCUMENTS
I refer to the minister’s claim in this house yesterday that the leaked hospital documents obtained by Channel Nine contain names and personal details of patients. I draw the minister’s attention to the fact that on 21 September 2009 Amanda Ling, the chief executive officer of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, apologised to Channel Nine and acknowledged that the hospital had failed to disclose documents under the Freedom of Information Act, none of which documents contained names or personal information. (1) Will the minister now apologise to Channel Nine for this false accusation, cancel the internal leak investigation and apologise for misleading the house? (2) Is it acceptable that after a nine-month investigation, the draft report into the surgical competence of Dr Shehatha contains no recommendations? (3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the minister’s claim in this house yesterday that the leaked hospital documents obtained by Channel Nine contain names and personal details of patients. I draw the minister’s attention to the fact that on 21 September 2009 Amanda Ling, the chief executive officer of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, apologised to Channel Nine and acknowledged that the hospital had failed to disclose documents under the Freedom of Information Act, none of which documents contained names or personal information. (1) Will the minister now apologise to Channel Nine for this false accusation, cancel the internal leak investigation and apologise for misleading the house? (2) Is it acceptable that after a nine-month investigation, the draft report into the surgical competence of Dr Shehatha contains no recommendations? (3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(1) Will the minister now apologise to Channel Nine for this false accusation, cancel the internal leak investigation and apologise for misleading the house? (2) Is it acceptable that after a nine-month investigation, the draft report into the surgical competence of Dr Shehatha contains no recommendations? (3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(2) Is it acceptable that after a nine-month investigation, the draft report into the surgical competence of Dr Shehatha contains no recommendations? (3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(1) Will the minister now apologise to Channel Nine for this false accusation, cancel the internal leak investigation and apologise for misleading the house? (2) Is it acceptable that after a nine-month investigation, the draft report into the surgical competence of Dr Shehatha contains no recommendations? (3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(2) Is it acceptable that after a nine-month investigation, the draft report into the surgical competence of Dr Shehatha contains no recommendations? (3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(3) In light of Dr Shehatha’s allegations that despite his junior status he was repeatedly given cases refused by other surgeons, will the minister now order a comprehensive review of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
(1)-(3) In my answer to the question yesterday, I passed on information that had been provided to me by one of the staff senior to Dr Ling. I am not aware that the items that the member refers to and that Dr Ling apologised for under FOI are in fact the same document that the member was referring to as having been leaked. In fact, I doubt it, because I have been clearly advised, as I said, and given information that the specific document that was leaked contained information about patients. I am happy to follow that up and check those two sources of information to see if they are conflicting. I am not sure that they are conflicting. I have only what the member says to go on. Frankly, with the member’s history of spin, I will certainly not take his comments at face value.
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