❓ Opposition questions the Health Minister about potential cuts to play coordinators at Princess Margaret Hospital, arguing it will negatively impact children's hospital experience. Minister denies cuts are cost-saving, stating a modernised model with more volunteers is being implemented.
AnsweredQoN 213Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRINCESS
MARGARET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN — PLAY COORDINATORS
213. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the confirmation that the
Department of Health will cut between 10 and 20 play coordinators at Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children, who assist children in the hospital by minimising the
child's fear and anxiety, as well as the family's fear and
anxiety, and by normalising the child's hospital stay as much as
possible.
(1) Why is the minister attacking the
very service that makes a child's stay at hospital less traumatic?
(2) What are the savings to the
health budget as a result of these staff cuts?
(3) Does this not
make it clear that the Minister for Health is sacking staff as the Australian
Medical Association predicted the government would in 2015?
MARGARET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN — PLAY COORDINATORS
213. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the confirmation that the
Department of Health will cut between 10 and 20 play coordinators at Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children, who assist children in the hospital by minimising the
child's fear and anxiety, as well as the family's fear and
anxiety, and by normalising the child's hospital stay as much as
possible.
(1) Why is the minister attacking the
very service that makes a child's stay at hospital less traumatic?
(2) What are the savings to the
health budget as a result of these staff cuts?
(3) Does this not
make it clear that the Minister for Health is sacking staff as the Australian
Medical Association predicted the government would in 2015?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
The opposition is doing well what it normally does—that is,
scaremongering and frightening parents of sick children, whom we do actually
care about and for whom this government is providing a $1.2 billion new
children's hospital. We are not attacking those people at all. A new
model is being put in place that is more contemporary and in accordance with
the model that exists in similar children's hospitals elsewhere in
Australia. In fact, I am advised that Princess Margaret Hospital is one of the
only Australian hospitals still using play coordinators. Almost everywhere else
they have modernised to what is known as the ''keeping kids in no
distress'' model. More volunteers will be involved. Fewer play
coordinators will be employed. There are currently —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
About nine people, or seven full-time equivalents, will no longer be involved
once the changes have been made, and all of them have expressed an interest in
voluntary severance.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY : As
I said, there is a much more contemporary arrangement that is used at other
children's hospitals and changes are being made to that arrangement as
a prelude to moving to the new $1.2 billion Perth Children's Hospital.
As an example of what is done elsewhere, at the Royal Children's
Hospital in Melbourne this program is delivered through hospital volunteers,
non-government organisation partners and allied health professionals on
referral. This is not being done as a cost-saving measure; it is being done to
put in place a more contemporary arrangement and it will result in —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time; member for
Girrawheen, for the third time. A quick answer, please.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : The
government is keen to obtain the best value for the very large amount of
taxpayers' money that is put into our health system so that children
and other patients can get the best possible care with the very large amount of
taxpayers' funds that are made available.
The opposition is doing well what it normally does—that is,
scaremongering and frightening parents of sick children, whom we do actually
care about and for whom this government is providing a $1.2 billion new
children's hospital. We are not attacking those people at all. A new
model is being put in place that is more contemporary and in accordance with
the model that exists in similar children's hospitals elsewhere in
Australia. In fact, I am advised that Princess Margaret Hospital is one of the
only Australian hospitals still using play coordinators. Almost everywhere else
they have modernised to what is known as the ''keeping kids in no
distress'' model. More volunteers will be involved. Fewer play
coordinators will be employed. There are currently —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
About nine people, or seven full-time equivalents, will no longer be involved
once the changes have been made, and all of them have expressed an interest in
voluntary severance.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY : As
I said, there is a much more contemporary arrangement that is used at other
children's hospitals and changes are being made to that arrangement as
a prelude to moving to the new $1.2 billion Perth Children's Hospital.
As an example of what is done elsewhere, at the Royal Children's
Hospital in Melbourne this program is delivered through hospital volunteers,
non-government organisation partners and allied health professionals on
referral. This is not being done as a cost-saving measure; it is being done to
put in place a more contemporary arrangement and it will result in —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time; member for
Girrawheen, for the third time. A quick answer, please.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : The
government is keen to obtain the best value for the very large amount of
taxpayers' money that is put into our health system so that children
and other patients can get the best possible care with the very large amount of
taxpayers' funds that are made available.
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