❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Health about elective surgery waitlists, claiming they've worsened under the current government. The Minister refutes this, stating WA has the second-shortest median wait time nationally.
AnsweredQoN 764Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
ELECTIVE AND NON-URGENT SURGERY
764. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. It
is indisputable that elective surgery waitlists —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, members!
We do not need commentary while the question is in progress.
Dr D.J. HONEY : It is
indisputable that elective surgery waitlists have blown out since the Labor Party
took government. What confidence can those patients who have already had
surgeries cancelled or rescheduled have that they will actually get medical
care on time in the current system?
The SPEAKER : Before the
minister answers, I again draw to your attention that a supplementary is a short,
sharp question. You cannot preface it with ''it is indisputable this or
that''. Just ask the question. If you continue to do it, I will rule
your supplementaries out of order.
ELECTIVE AND NON-URGENT SURGERY
764. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. It
is indisputable that elective surgery waitlists —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, members!
We do not need commentary while the question is in progress.
Dr D.J. HONEY : It is
indisputable that elective surgery waitlists have blown out since the Labor Party
took government. What confidence can those patients who have already had
surgeries cancelled or rescheduled have that they will actually get medical
care on time in the current system?
The SPEAKER : Before the
minister answers, I again draw to your attention that a supplementary is a short,
sharp question. You cannot preface it with ''it is indisputable this or
that''. Just ask the question. If you continue to do it, I will rule
your supplementaries out of order.
AnswerView source ↗
The embarrassment rolls on. Day
after day opposition members reveal how ill-prepared and lazy they are to get
their head around the facts. I will share a few facts with the chamber. As of
September 2021, 29 140 reportable cases were on the elective surgery waitlist.
As former Minister for Health Hon Kim Hames always used to point out to me—I
acknowledge Hon Bob Kucera, who must be loving this question time; yes, Bob,
the questions to the Minister for Health never stop—I was talking about
Kim Hames! Kim Hames always used to explain to me that it is not the number of
people who are on the waiting list; it is how long they wait. If someone is in
a bank and the bank has four bank tellers, it does not matter that four people
are waiting in the queue because they know that they will be seen to quickly.
Ms L. Mettam : How about
ramping?
Mr R.H. COOK : How about just
listening for a change, member for Vasse?
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, you will get an opportunity to have more to say on this topic during the
matter of public interest. This is just a brief answer to a supplementary
question.
Mr R.H. COOK : From the most
recent data available, we know that Western Australia is second only to
Victoria in having the shortest median wait time for elective surgeries in the
country. The very premise upon which the member Cottesloe asks his questions is
false. The lessons from this question are that the opposition should not be lazy or embarrass itself by coming into this place
and be ill prepared, and it should stick to the facts. The fact of the matter is that our hospital system is doing very
well under very difficult circumstances with a constrained workforce ,
and for that we should all be very grateful to the doctors and nurses of Western
Australia.
after day opposition members reveal how ill-prepared and lazy they are to get
their head around the facts. I will share a few facts with the chamber. As of
September 2021, 29 140 reportable cases were on the elective surgery waitlist.
As former Minister for Health Hon Kim Hames always used to point out to me—I
acknowledge Hon Bob Kucera, who must be loving this question time; yes, Bob,
the questions to the Minister for Health never stop—I was talking about
Kim Hames! Kim Hames always used to explain to me that it is not the number of
people who are on the waiting list; it is how long they wait. If someone is in
a bank and the bank has four bank tellers, it does not matter that four people
are waiting in the queue because they know that they will be seen to quickly.
Ms L. Mettam : How about
ramping?
Mr R.H. COOK : How about just
listening for a change, member for Vasse?
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, you will get an opportunity to have more to say on this topic during the
matter of public interest. This is just a brief answer to a supplementary
question.
Mr R.H. COOK : From the most
recent data available, we know that Western Australia is second only to
Victoria in having the shortest median wait time for elective surgeries in the
country. The very premise upon which the member Cottesloe asks his questions is
false. The lessons from this question are that the opposition should not be lazy or embarrass itself by coming into this place
and be ill prepared, and it should stick to the facts. The fact of the matter is that our hospital system is doing very
well under very difficult circumstances with a constrained workforce ,
and for that we should all be very grateful to the doctors and nurses of Western
Australia.
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