❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding the opening date of Perth Children's Hospital, citing delays and construction defects. The Minister assures the hospital will open before the end of 2016, prioritising patient safety.
AnsweredQoN 192Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — COMMISSIONING
192. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's statements to the media
last week that Perth Children's Hospital will be open this year, albeit
12 months late, and the previous Minister for Health's recent answer in
the other place in relation to commissioning that his government still does not
even know the date of practical completion.
(1) Does the
minister still stand by his statement that the hospital will be open in 2016;
and, if not, when?
(2) Is the
long delay connected to reports of construction defects related to fire doors
and piping or is it something else?
(3) Does the
minister now know the date of practical completion and when is it?
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — COMMISSIONING
192. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's statements to the media
last week that Perth Children's Hospital will be open this year, albeit
12 months late, and the previous Minister for Health's recent answer in
the other place in relation to commissioning that his government still does not
even know the date of practical completion.
(1) Does the
minister still stand by his statement that the hospital will be open in 2016;
and, if not, when?
(2) Is the
long delay connected to reports of construction defects related to fire doors
and piping or is it something else?
(3) Does the
minister now know the date of practical completion and when is it?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
The Perth Children's Hospital is one of the major health redevelopment
projects that this state government not only has committed to and announced and
put up signs about—what the previous Labor government was good at doing—but
also is actually delivering and completing. Witness Bunbury and Armadale
hospital redevelopments going back quite some years. I have a reasonably long
memory. The previous Labor government was very good at putting up signs and
announcing them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, if you want to ask a
question, put your name down. I call you to order for the first time. Minister,
quick answer.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : The
completion date for the children's hospital, as is well publicised, is
later than the government would have preferred and that is because of the
complexity of the project. But, essentially, that is the responsibility of the
builder, John Holland Group, and it has taken longer than we would like.
Sometimes that happens.
Mr M. McGowan :
Why?
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY : For
a whole range of issues that the Leader of the Opposition should probably
address to John Holland Group.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Leader of the Opposition, you
are entitled to ask a supplementary question. Leave it up to the member for
Kwinana. Let the minister answer. We have been going now for 12 minutes; we
have had two questions. Let us speed it up.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : The
advice I have had in the five days I have been in this role is that the
practical completion is expected in June this year and there is expected to be
about a five-month commissioning process of the hospital. The hospital will
therefore be open and in operation before the end of this year. The most
essential aspect is that it will commence operations. Patients will be
transferred from the existing Princess Margaret Hospital for Children when
there is an absolute assurance that it is safe and appropriate to do so. That
is the essential criteria. I have been assured that that will be before the end
of this year. As I said, what is most important is patient safety and
world-standard patient care.
The Perth Children's Hospital is one of the major health redevelopment
projects that this state government not only has committed to and announced and
put up signs about—what the previous Labor government was good at doing—but
also is actually delivering and completing. Witness Bunbury and Armadale
hospital redevelopments going back quite some years. I have a reasonably long
memory. The previous Labor government was very good at putting up signs and
announcing them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Armadale, if you want to ask a
question, put your name down. I call you to order for the first time. Minister,
quick answer.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : The
completion date for the children's hospital, as is well publicised, is
later than the government would have preferred and that is because of the
complexity of the project. But, essentially, that is the responsibility of the
builder, John Holland Group, and it has taken longer than we would like.
Sometimes that happens.
Mr M. McGowan :
Why?
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY : For
a whole range of issues that the Leader of the Opposition should probably
address to John Holland Group.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Leader of the Opposition, you
are entitled to ask a supplementary question. Leave it up to the member for
Kwinana. Let the minister answer. We have been going now for 12 minutes; we
have had two questions. Let us speed it up.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : The
advice I have had in the five days I have been in this role is that the
practical completion is expected in June this year and there is expected to be
about a five-month commissioning process of the hospital. The hospital will
therefore be open and in operation before the end of this year. The most
essential aspect is that it will commence operations. Patients will be
transferred from the existing Princess Margaret Hospital for Children when
there is an absolute assurance that it is safe and appropriate to do so. That
is the essential criteria. I have been assured that that will be before the end
of this year. As I said, what is most important is patient safety and
world-standard patient care.
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