❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses media reports of issues at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, including water leaks and mould. The Minister defends the hospital's safety and highlights planned upgrades, facing interjections from the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 294Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
294. Mr Jonathan Huston to the Minister for Health:
(1) When was the minister made aware of the issues
at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital revealed in the media today?
(2) What are the clinical and infectious impacts
on staff and patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital due to these ongoing
issues?
(3) How many occupational health and safety
complaints have been lodged due to water leaks, sewage leaks and mould in the
last financial year?
294. Mr Jonathan Huston to the Minister for Health:
(1) When was the minister made aware of the issues
at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital revealed in the media today?
(2) What are the clinical and infectious impacts
on staff and patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital due to these ongoing
issues?
(3) How many occupational health and safety
complaints have been lodged due to water leaks, sewage leaks and mould in the
last financial year?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the
question. I just really want to put on the record that Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital is a safe hospital. Despite the questioning from the opposition and
the premise of this question, it is a hospital performing important work. It is
a safe hospital. It sees more than half a million patients every year. It is an
important part of our health system. I also want to be clear that no surgeries
or procedures were cancelled, postponed or diverted due to the infrastructure
issues in the theatre area. There has been ongoing work in that hospital,
exactly as members would expect. It is an ageing piece of infrastructure. We would
of course expect—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, the minister is responding.
Ms Meredith Hammat: It is an older hospital. Of course
there will always be issues that require attention, and that is exactly what we
would expect and that is exactly what has been happening. It remains an
important part of our overall health system, which is why we have committed to
the upgrades that I have already spoken about. There is $50 million for the
emergency department and $25 million to increase the capacity of the intensive
care unit. These are important investments in an important hospital that is
safe and delivering high-quality care.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Meredith Hammat: It is a hospital that is safe and delivering
quality, important care to our community.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Sandra Brewer: Why is it called pit stop? Is it for racetrack funding?
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Meredith Hammat: I just think that demonstrates the
lack of understanding about our hospitals and health system.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is
an important hospital in our health system. We are committed to doing a number
of upgrades. It is safe. It delivers high-quality care to half a million
patients every year.
question. I just really want to put on the record that Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital is a safe hospital. Despite the questioning from the opposition and
the premise of this question, it is a hospital performing important work. It is
a safe hospital. It sees more than half a million patients every year. It is an
important part of our health system. I also want to be clear that no surgeries
or procedures were cancelled, postponed or diverted due to the infrastructure
issues in the theatre area. There has been ongoing work in that hospital,
exactly as members would expect. It is an ageing piece of infrastructure. We would
of course expect—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, the minister is responding.
Ms Meredith Hammat: It is an older hospital. Of course
there will always be issues that require attention, and that is exactly what we
would expect and that is exactly what has been happening. It remains an
important part of our overall health system, which is why we have committed to
the upgrades that I have already spoken about. There is $50 million for the
emergency department and $25 million to increase the capacity of the intensive
care unit. These are important investments in an important hospital that is
safe and delivering high-quality care.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Meredith Hammat: It is a hospital that is safe and delivering
quality, important care to our community.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Sandra Brewer: Why is it called pit stop? Is it for racetrack funding?
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Meredith Hammat: I just think that demonstrates the
lack of understanding about our hospitals and health system.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is
an important hospital in our health system. We are committed to doing a number
of upgrades. It is safe. It delivers high-quality care to half a million
patients every year.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.