❓ Ms McHale questions the Minister for Health regarding the Australia Clinic's operations, funding, and relationships with the public health system. The Minister provides details on the clinic's structure, funding, role in exporting health services, and patient numbers.
AnsweredQoN 681Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
681. Ms McHALE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Australia Clinic and ask -
(a) what relationship does the Health Department, the Metropolitan Health Services Board, or any employee of the Public Health system have with the Australia Clinic;
(b) who is on the Board of the Australia Clinic;
(c) have Government funds been used in the activities of the Australia Clinic;
(d) if yes, how much and over what period;
(e) what is the role of the Australia Clinic; and
(f) how many patients have been brought in to receive medical services as a direct consequence of the activities of the Australia Clinic?
I refer to the Australia Clinic and ask -
(a) what relationship does the Health Department, the Metropolitan Health Services Board, or any employee of the Public Health system have with the Australia Clinic;
(b) who is on the Board of the Australia Clinic;
(c) have Government funds been used in the activities of the Australia Clinic;
(d) if yes, how much and over what period;
(e) what is the role of the Australia Clinic; and
(f) how many patients have been brought in to receive medical services as a direct consequence of the activities of the Australia Clinic?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2000
Response time
69 days
The Minister Replied:
(a) The Australia Clinic is a public service business unit attached to the Corporate Management Branch of the Health Department of Western Australia (HDWA).
The Clinic currently has three staff, one of which is an employee of the HDWA, and the other two are employees of Royal Perth Hospital (Metropolitan Health Service Board) on secondment to the Clinic.
(b) As a section of a Government Department the Clinic does not have a formal Board of Management. However, an "Advisory Board" meets monthly to oversee its operational direction and to deal with issues of policy.
The current "Advisory Board" consists of the Chief Executives of Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fremantle Hospitals and the HDWA's Chief Medical Officer, representing the Commissioner of Health.
(c) As The Australia Clinic is a section of the HDWA, Government funds are utilised in the Clinic's operations.
(d) The Australia Clinic was established in 1996 and the following levels of Government funds have been utilised in its operations:
1996/1997 $419 866
1997/1998 $272 336
1998/1999 $444 974
1999/2000 $336 906
(e) The Mission statement of The Australia Clinic is provided hereunder:-
The Australia Clinic will maximise the opportunities of Western Australia's health providers to export their clinical, training, education and consultancy services to developing countries by:
- Marketing the brand name and capabilities of the Australia Clinic in target countries.
- Providing a presence of The Australia Clinic in these countries through selected representatives and agencies.
- Ensuring that the brand name, "The Australia Clinic" is synonymous with high quality, cost effective and timely service provision.
The following statement outlines the role and activities of The Australia Clinic:
The Australia Clinic was established in 1996 to facilitate the export of Western Australia's world class health services and technologies. The Australia Clinic draws on the experience and expertise of over 30 000 health and allied health professionals from the following partners:
- The HDWA
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
- King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
- Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
- Royal Perth Hospital
- Fremantle Hospital
- Hollywood Private Hospital
- Mount Hospital
- St John of God Hospital
- Lions Eye Institute of Western Australia
- Mercy Hospital
The Australia Clinic has established strong relationships with its Indian Ocean and Asian neighbours, with advantages of working in a similar time zone, close geographic proximity and Western Australia's multicultural society.
The Australia Clinic is able to provide a comprehensive range of services either offshore or in Perth. These include :
Consultancy Services and Project Management - Hospital administration and management, international standard quality accreditation, Health services planning, design and construction facilities, Aged care, Disability rehabilitation care, Occupational safety and health, Research, Diagnostics, Telehealth, Rural health, Dental health, Personnel placement, Mental health.
Education and Training - Broad range of medical specialities, Nursing, Public health, Primary health care, Infectious disease control, Environmental Health Research, Medical physics.
International Patient Services - Complex tertiary care in specialist areas including: cardiac surgery, cardiology, neurology, trauma rehabilitation, cancer, bone marrow transplantation, orthopaedics, urology and spinal surgery.
(f) During the period 1996 to 1999, 239 international patients were coordinated for public hospitals as a result of The Australia Clinic's marketing activities during these years and of which 10 were directly through The Australia Clinic. Significant numbers of patients were also admitted to private hospitals.
During the period 1999 to August 2000, 22 patients were directly referred through The Australia Clinic and many more were admitted directly to Western Australia's private and public sector hospitals.
International patients who travel to Western Australia for clinical treatment are primarily from developing countries in Southeast Asia where the type of treatment they require is not available.
All such patients are required to pay the full cost of their treatment in Western Australia.
(a) The Australia Clinic is a public service business unit attached to the Corporate Management Branch of the Health Department of Western Australia (HDWA).
The Clinic currently has three staff, one of which is an employee of the HDWA, and the other two are employees of Royal Perth Hospital (Metropolitan Health Service Board) on secondment to the Clinic.
(b) As a section of a Government Department the Clinic does not have a formal Board of Management. However, an "Advisory Board" meets monthly to oversee its operational direction and to deal with issues of policy.
The current "Advisory Board" consists of the Chief Executives of Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fremantle Hospitals and the HDWA's Chief Medical Officer, representing the Commissioner of Health.
(c) As The Australia Clinic is a section of the HDWA, Government funds are utilised in the Clinic's operations.
(d) The Australia Clinic was established in 1996 and the following levels of Government funds have been utilised in its operations:
1996/1997 $419 866
1997/1998 $272 336
1998/1999 $444 974
1999/2000 $336 906
(e) The Mission statement of The Australia Clinic is provided hereunder:-
The Australia Clinic will maximise the opportunities of Western Australia's health providers to export their clinical, training, education and consultancy services to developing countries by:
- Marketing the brand name and capabilities of the Australia Clinic in target countries.
- Providing a presence of The Australia Clinic in these countries through selected representatives and agencies.
- Ensuring that the brand name, "The Australia Clinic" is synonymous with high quality, cost effective and timely service provision.
The following statement outlines the role and activities of The Australia Clinic:
The Australia Clinic was established in 1996 to facilitate the export of Western Australia's world class health services and technologies. The Australia Clinic draws on the experience and expertise of over 30 000 health and allied health professionals from the following partners:
- The HDWA
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
- King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
- Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
- Royal Perth Hospital
- Fremantle Hospital
- Hollywood Private Hospital
- Mount Hospital
- St John of God Hospital
- Lions Eye Institute of Western Australia
- Mercy Hospital
The Australia Clinic has established strong relationships with its Indian Ocean and Asian neighbours, with advantages of working in a similar time zone, close geographic proximity and Western Australia's multicultural society.
The Australia Clinic is able to provide a comprehensive range of services either offshore or in Perth. These include :
Consultancy Services and Project Management - Hospital administration and management, international standard quality accreditation, Health services planning, design and construction facilities, Aged care, Disability rehabilitation care, Occupational safety and health, Research, Diagnostics, Telehealth, Rural health, Dental health, Personnel placement, Mental health.
Education and Training - Broad range of medical specialities, Nursing, Public health, Primary health care, Infectious disease control, Environmental Health Research, Medical physics.
International Patient Services - Complex tertiary care in specialist areas including: cardiac surgery, cardiology, neurology, trauma rehabilitation, cancer, bone marrow transplantation, orthopaedics, urology and spinal surgery.
(f) During the period 1996 to 1999, 239 international patients were coordinated for public hospitals as a result of The Australia Clinic's marketing activities during these years and of which 10 were directly through The Australia Clinic. Significant numbers of patients were also admitted to private hospitals.
During the period 1999 to August 2000, 22 patients were directly referred through The Australia Clinic and many more were admitted directly to Western Australia's private and public sector hospitals.
International patients who travel to Western Australia for clinical treatment are primarily from developing countries in Southeast Asia where the type of treatment they require is not available.
All such patients are required to pay the full cost of their treatment in Western Australia.
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