❓ Question concerns ambulance ramping at Joondalup Health Campus and the effectiveness of the new emergency department. Minister defends the department's performance, citing reduced ramping hours and increased patient throughput despite increased demand.
AnsweredQoN 218Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOONDALUP HEALTH CAMPUS — EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
I refer to a question the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked on 5 April asserting that the Minister for Health had been incorrect in claiming that the new emergency department at Joondalup Health Campus would reduce ambulance ramping. Can the minister please outline to the house the real situation? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to a question the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked on 5 April asserting that the Minister for Health had been incorrect in claiming that the new emergency department at Joondalup Health Campus would reduce ambulance ramping. Can the minister please outline to the house the real situation? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
We always know to take with a grain of salt what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says about issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: We always know to take with a grain of salt what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says about issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
We always know to take with a grain of salt what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says about issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: We always know to take with a grain of salt what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says about issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
We always know to take with a grain of salt what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says about issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Wet behind the ears. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, wet behind the ears; I like that comment! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition put out a press statement and asked questions last week about what had happened at Joondalup hospital in relation to my comments about ambulance ramping. He put out a press release that was quite factually correct, but then he asked a question in this house — Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr B.J. Grylls : Never! Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Only factually correct in that the things he did not say were the important ones! The things he actually said were correct. However, he then got up in this house and asked a question, based on that press release, that contained erroneous comments which totally distorted the meaning of the question. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition commenced the question by saying — … the minister claimed that Joondalup Health Campus emergency department redevelopment would reduce ambulance ramping. So, that is what I said. Then he asked — (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite this claim, Joondalup hospital still has the worst ambulance ramping statistics in WA, with 103 hours in March alone? That is correct, but it does not say that that is a “significant” reduction on the previous month’s hours! Do not bother saying that! The next question insinuates that the number of hours is actually greater and not less; the Deputy Leader of the Opposition asked — (2) What can the minister offer the people of Joondalup after this measure has clearly failed? That is his comment saying that it has clearly failed. It is totally incorrect and it is the same thing that those two members opposite do all the time. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am getting a second chance because here I am! This is my second chance. What I find with every question I get from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that either I know right from the start that it is wrong, so I can answer it when I am on my feet, or it is about an issue that I have not been made aware of yet, but I know damned well that it is going to be wrong, so that gives me the next chance at the next sitting of the house to get up and show it is wrong. So here I am yet again showing that it is wrong. Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Can I tell members what used to happen? Joondalup hospital used to have a large number of diversions; there would be some ambulances ramped at the hospital and the rest would be diverted to all the other hospitals. Since the changes, since the opening of the new emergency department, diversions have stopped; diversions are now non-existent and 872 hours of diversions from Joondalup hospital have ceased. In that same time period—remember we opened the new emergency department only about a month or so ago—ambulance ramping has reduced at that hospital from 153 hours in February to 103 hours, which is a 33 per cent reduction in ramping hours. What has also happened at the hospital since the new emergency department opened? Attendances to the emergency department have increased by 18 per cent, admissions have increased by 33 per cent, operations on emergency patients have increased by 28 per cent, and the total number of patients has increased by 15 per cent. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : At the same time that the hospital has had a huge increase in demand, it has had a significant reduction in ambulance ramping and the cessation of the diversion of ambulances. What does the hospital tell us, too, about the beds that it has? We have only just got to the creation of those new additional beds. The hospital has not yet got them all open and it has not yet got all its theatres open, so it has just started. The response from the hospital says — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I formally call you to order for the first time today. Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : In its response to me the hospital says that despite the huge increase in demand, it has stopped diversions and has reduced by one-third ambulance ramping. It expects that to improve enormously over the next few months as it gets all its hospital beds and new theatres open. Therefore, despite the inference of the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, outrageous is the right term. The hospital has clearly not failed and, as I said would occur, there has been an enormous improvement.
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