❓ Question regarding Legionella detection and management at Geraldton Health Campus over the past 12 months. The answer provides general information about WA Health's testing and remediation programs but declines to provide specific details due to resource constraints.
AnsweredQoN 569Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the detection and management of Legionella bacteria at WA Health Campuses over the past 12 months, and I ask : (a) In the past 12 months, has Legionella bacteria been detected in the water systems, cooling towers, or other facilities at Geraldton Health Campus; (b) For each detection, please advise: (i) the date of detection; (ii) the source or location within the facility where the bacteria was found; (iii) the Legionella species detected; (iv) the concentration detected; and (v) the remediation measures undertaken and the date they were completed; (c) How often is Geraldton Health Campus required to test for Legionella; (d) Are test results reported to the Department of Health, and if so, what is the process and timeframe for reporting; and (e) In the past 12 months, have any patients, visitors, or staff contracted Legionnaires’ disease linked to exposure at Geraldton Health Campus: (i) If yes, please provide details including the date of diagnosis and the outcome of any investigations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
The Department and health service providers have confirmed that our public hospitals have rigorous water testing and remediation programs in place which test for both legionella and lead. These practices ensure that public health standards are upheld and that any risks associated are swiftly identified and mitigated. WA Health testing regimes are consistent with national standards and frameworks and are designed to trigger investigation and remediation before any contaminant reaches levels that pose a risk to public health.
A senior WA health infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist, provided advice to the public in September on legionella - confirming that Legionella is not contracted by drinking water - it is acquired through the inhalation or aspiration of contaminated aerosols. And that if a microbial exceedance is detected at a location within a hospital, it is best practice to isolate the asset and begin remediation immediately, and that is the approach WA Health takes. Legionnaire’s disease is a notifiable disease in Western Australia and any case must be reported to the Chief Health Officer.
With regards to lead, the Government continues to take advice of experts like our Chief Health Office. We have put in place a new procedure to ensure that results regarding lead are regularly reported to the Chief Health Officer and that, when there are concerns, they are escalated to the Minister.
The member has asked that each health service provider provide detailed lists of test results for each occurrence of legionella or lead at each site, when and where and what actions have been taken since the beginning of 2023. There are more than 80 public hospitals in Western Australia and water testing is a frequent and routine operational requirement undertaken at HSP level. Requiring public servants to manually collate and pull together a line by line list of results over almost 3 years is a significant resource intensive exercise, requiring the diversion of WA Health staff away from their core duties which is providing care to the people of Western Australia. For this reason, the information is not provided.
A senior WA health infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist, provided advice to the public in September on legionella - confirming that Legionella is not contracted by drinking water - it is acquired through the inhalation or aspiration of contaminated aerosols. And that if a microbial exceedance is detected at a location within a hospital, it is best practice to isolate the asset and begin remediation immediately, and that is the approach WA Health takes. Legionnaire’s disease is a notifiable disease in Western Australia and any case must be reported to the Chief Health Officer.
With regards to lead, the Government continues to take advice of experts like our Chief Health Office. We have put in place a new procedure to ensure that results regarding lead are regularly reported to the Chief Health Officer and that, when there are concerns, they are escalated to the Minister.
The member has asked that each health service provider provide detailed lists of test results for each occurrence of legionella or lead at each site, when and where and what actions have been taken since the beginning of 2023. There are more than 80 public hospitals in Western Australia and water testing is a frequent and routine operational requirement undertaken at HSP level. Requiring public servants to manually collate and pull together a line by line list of results over almost 3 years is a significant resource intensive exercise, requiring the diversion of WA Health staff away from their core duties which is providing care to the people of Western Australia. For this reason, the information is not provided.
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