❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses delayed breast cancer surgeries at Bunbury Regional Hospital due to alleged under-funding. The Minister acknowledges the report, attributes the issue to scheduling, and defends the budget allocation while acknowledging broader healthcare challenges.
AnsweredQoN 875Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware of an article in last week’s the South Western Times , in which it was revealed that two women who were scheduled for breast cancer surgery at the Bunbury Regional Hospital had their operations delayed, and then cancelled, as a result of chronic under-funding at the hospital? (2) Is the minister aware that a surgeon from the hospital has warned that the under-funding will result in serious clinical dangers? (3) Will the minister admit that Western Australia’s regional health services are in desperate need of financial support, and rectify this problem in the upcoming state budget? Mr KUCERA
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(2) Is the minister aware that a surgeon from the hospital has warned that the under-funding will result in serious clinical dangers? (3) Will the minister admit that Western Australia’s regional health services are in desperate need of financial support, and rectify this problem in the upcoming state budget? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(3) Will the minister admit that Western Australia’s regional health services are in desperate need of financial support, and rectify this problem in the upcoming state budget? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(2) Is the minister aware that a surgeon from the hospital has warned that the under-funding will result in serious clinical dangers? (3) Will the minister admit that Western Australia’s regional health services are in desperate need of financial support, and rectify this problem in the upcoming state budget? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(3) Will the minister admit that Western Australia’s regional health services are in desperate need of financial support, and rectify this problem in the upcoming state budget? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(1)-(2) Last week I was in Melbourne, and involved in talks with the federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, about forthcoming health-care agreements. Therefore, I saw the newspaper report only this morning, and I have asked to be briefed on the matter. Having read the newspaper report, it is my understanding that the rejigging of the surgeon’s listings caused the problem. (3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
(3) It is interesting to note that, regardless of all this year’s rhetoric - particularly by the leader and members of the National Party - virtually all our hospitals are meeting their budgets, working within the system, and trying to manage all the issues that have been raised. I remind the member for Hillarys that there is a shortage of nurses in this country. There is also a shortage of specialist doctors, and we are working very hard towards solving these problems. A raft of issues affect the way our hospitals operate. There was sufficient money in this year’s budget - in fact, the south west budget was increased considerably. We have worked towards solving the shortage of staff in the south west in a logistical and sensible manner. The Government will work through all the problems methodically. However, such issues must be approached in a sensible and rational way, and not in an attempt to score cheap political points.
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