❓ Mr Cook questions the Health Minister regarding delays and lack of transparency in investigations into child deaths at WA country hospitals, particularly the case of Gracey Weir. The Minister denies secrecy, stating inquiries are routine and families are informed privately.
AnsweredQoN 7Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY HOSPITALS — CHILD DEATHS
I refer to the deaths of Andrew Allan, Sebastian Parman and Lachlan Hughes, who were tragically let down by WA country hospitals, and, in particular, to the death at Geraldton Regional Hospital two years ago of Gracey Weir, the stillborn daughter of Nicola Weir. (1) Why, after the minister had personally spoken to Nicola Weir, has it taken so long for the minister’s department to investigate this incident? (2) Why did the minister’s office inform Ms Weir that an inquiry would take a matter of weeks to complete, yet Ms Weir is still looking for answers two years after the incident and has been treated shabbily, having to retell her tragic story to a stream of health department bureaucrats? (3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the deaths of Andrew Allan, Sebastian Parman and Lachlan Hughes, who were tragically let down by WA country hospitals, and, in particular, to the death at Geraldton Regional Hospital two years ago of Gracey Weir, the stillborn daughter of Nicola Weir. (1) Why, after the minister had personally spoken to Nicola Weir, has it taken so long for the minister’s department to investigate this incident? (2) Why did the minister’s office inform Ms Weir that an inquiry would take a matter of weeks to complete, yet Ms Weir is still looking for answers two years after the incident and has been treated shabbily, having to retell her tragic story to a stream of health department bureaucrats? (3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(1) Why, after the minister had personally spoken to Nicola Weir, has it taken so long for the minister’s department to investigate this incident? (2) Why did the minister’s office inform Ms Weir that an inquiry would take a matter of weeks to complete, yet Ms Weir is still looking for answers two years after the incident and has been treated shabbily, having to retell her tragic story to a stream of health department bureaucrats? (3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(2) Why did the minister’s office inform Ms Weir that an inquiry would take a matter of weeks to complete, yet Ms Weir is still looking for answers two years after the incident and has been treated shabbily, having to retell her tragic story to a stream of health department bureaucrats? (3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(1) Why, after the minister had personally spoken to Nicola Weir, has it taken so long for the minister’s department to investigate this incident? (2) Why did the minister’s office inform Ms Weir that an inquiry would take a matter of weeks to complete, yet Ms Weir is still looking for answers two years after the incident and has been treated shabbily, having to retell her tragic story to a stream of health department bureaucrats? (3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(2) Why did the minister’s office inform Ms Weir that an inquiry would take a matter of weeks to complete, yet Ms Weir is still looking for answers two years after the incident and has been treated shabbily, having to retell her tragic story to a stream of health department bureaucrats? (3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(3) Why can Ms Weir and other grieving parents not be allowed the opportunity to see the results and outcomes of the inquiries into these tragedies involving their children, rather than there being the shroud of secrecy that surrounds the current investigations? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
(1)–(3) There has been no shroud of secrecy. As per routine procedure when someone sadly passes away through an event such as that which occurred on these occasions, an inquiry is automatically undertaken into the events surrounding the death. That has occurred. I, of course, play no part in that, other than being aware that the inquiry is being undertaken and seeking a copy of the responses when they are completed. These inquiries take whatever time they take. They are done independently and thoroughly to make sure that all the details are considered. I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
I am aware that Ms Weir has been unhappy with the occurrences. There was an attempt earlier in the piece to communicate with her, but I understand from the Department of Health that she may have moved house and some of the initial correspondence was not received by her. However, since that time—in fact, very recently—there have been meetings in which the health department has gone through with her the details of the inquiry. That has also happened with the cases at Northam. So there is no secrecy. The families of those who are deceased are certainly informed of those results. However, that is done privately—it is not for public consumption—as one would expect, between the health department and those people who have, sadly, been affected by these tragedies.
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