❓ Mr. Rundle raises concerns about the lack of GPs at Katanning Hospital, impacting surrounding regions and St John Ambulance. The Minister acknowledges the issue, highlighting WA's low GP density and ongoing efforts to recruit and secure fair federal funding.
AnsweredQoN 966Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KATANNING HOSPITAL — GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
966. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the concerning lack of general practitioners, especially in the
emergency department at Katanning Hospital.
(1) Has the WA
Country Health Service reported to the minister on this situation, which is
affecting not only Katanning, but also many patients from towns in the
surrounding regions, such as Kojonup?
(2) What is the
minister doing to make sure that Katanning's new royalties for regions–funded
hospital is staffed appropriately?
(3) Is the
minister concerned about the impact this is having on St John Ambulance, which
is constantly transporting patients to Albany and other locations?
966. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the concerning lack of general practitioners, especially in the
emergency department at Katanning Hospital.
(1) Has the WA
Country Health Service reported to the minister on this situation, which is
affecting not only Katanning, but also many patients from towns in the
surrounding regions, such as Kojonup?
(2) What is the
minister doing to make sure that Katanning's new royalties for regions–funded
hospital is staffed appropriately?
(3) Is the
minister concerned about the impact this is having on St John Ambulance, which
is constantly transporting patients to Albany and other locations?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for the question.
(1)–(3) I
have not been informed about that specific situation, but obviously the
availability of general practitioners right across our state is of grave
concern to the government. We are in the particularly invidious position of
having one of the lowest densities of general practitioners in Australia.
Members might be interested to know that the average number of GPs per 100 000
population nationally is 95. In Western Australia, it is 77. That comes on top
of the fact that in the electorates of the members for Cottesloe and Nedlands,
we have the highest concentrations of GPs in the nation. That gives members an
indication of just how parlous the situation is in country areas.
I mentioned in this place just this
week that attracting doctors and nurses to practise in the country,
particularly in inland regions, is very difficult, but it is something that the
government is completely committed to. We are working closely with Rural Health
West, under Tim Shackleton, to try to continue to recruit people into our
regional areas, and the Rural Clinical School of WA does a great job of
introducing medical students into the regions as part of their training, so
that we might encourage them to continue their practice in country areas.
Getting GPs into our rural areas is difficult, but getting specialists to
practise in rural areas is even more difficult, so the situation in Katanning
is that we rely on GP obstetricians to provide maternity services to try to
avoid patients having to go down the road to Albany to have their babies. It
remains an ongoing issue and a challenge, but it is one that the government is
continuing to address.
I should just say that one of the
things we are doing is having furious discussions with the commonwealth around
ensuring that Western Australia gets its fair share for health care—that
is, making sure that Western Australia enjoys a greater share of its resources
in terms of Medicare benefit schedules and pharmaceutical benefits. Those
discussions are ongoing. We are trying to ensure that we get a better share of
the commonwealth health dollar in Western Australia. That work continues. I acknowledge
the member's concerns, and it is something the government continues to
address.
member for the question.
(1)–(3) I
have not been informed about that specific situation, but obviously the
availability of general practitioners right across our state is of grave
concern to the government. We are in the particularly invidious position of
having one of the lowest densities of general practitioners in Australia.
Members might be interested to know that the average number of GPs per 100 000
population nationally is 95. In Western Australia, it is 77. That comes on top
of the fact that in the electorates of the members for Cottesloe and Nedlands,
we have the highest concentrations of GPs in the nation. That gives members an
indication of just how parlous the situation is in country areas.
I mentioned in this place just this
week that attracting doctors and nurses to practise in the country,
particularly in inland regions, is very difficult, but it is something that the
government is completely committed to. We are working closely with Rural Health
West, under Tim Shackleton, to try to continue to recruit people into our
regional areas, and the Rural Clinical School of WA does a great job of
introducing medical students into the regions as part of their training, so
that we might encourage them to continue their practice in country areas.
Getting GPs into our rural areas is difficult, but getting specialists to
practise in rural areas is even more difficult, so the situation in Katanning
is that we rely on GP obstetricians to provide maternity services to try to
avoid patients having to go down the road to Albany to have their babies. It
remains an ongoing issue and a challenge, but it is one that the government is
continuing to address.
I should just say that one of the
things we are doing is having furious discussions with the commonwealth around
ensuring that Western Australia gets its fair share for health care—that
is, making sure that Western Australia enjoys a greater share of its resources
in terms of Medicare benefit schedules and pharmaceutical benefits. Those
discussions are ongoing. We are trying to ensure that we get a better share of
the commonwealth health dollar in Western Australia. That work continues. I acknowledge
the member's concerns, and it is something the government continues to
address.
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