❓ A parliamentary question regarding a dispute between Northern Goldfields Health Services and obstetricians, focusing on intervention, retention, and payments for difficult births. The Minister deflects responsibility to the Health Service Board.
AnsweredQoN 559Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
559. Ms ANWYL to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the current dispute between Northern Goldfields Health Services and various medical practitioners practising obstetrics and ask -
(a) why has the Minister refused to intervene in this problem;
(b) why isnt the Minister taking action to encourage these medicos to stay in Kalgoorlie/Boulder;
(c) have any country or city medicos who have practised obstetrics received payment for difficult births pursuant to item 16522 and are they continuing to receive this amount;
(d) how many gynaecologists are practising outside the metropolitan area and what efforts are being made to encourage them to stay;
(e) will the Minister specify the relevant Health Service Board involved; and
(f) isnt it the case that other obstetricians are receiving payments pursuant to item 16522?
I refer to the current dispute between Northern Goldfields Health Services and various medical practitioners practising obstetrics and ask -
(a) why has the Minister refused to intervene in this problem;
(b) why isnt the Minister taking action to encourage these medicos to stay in Kalgoorlie/Boulder;
(c) have any country or city medicos who have practised obstetrics received payment for difficult births pursuant to item 16522 and are they continuing to receive this amount;
(d) how many gynaecologists are practising outside the metropolitan area and what efforts are being made to encourage them to stay;
(e) will the Minister specify the relevant Health Service Board involved; and
(f) isnt it the case that other obstetricians are receiving payments pursuant to item 16522?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2000
Response time
89 days
The Minister Replied:
(a) The Health Service Board is responsible for contractual issues under the Hospitals and Health Services Act and is the accountable authority under the Financial Administration and Audit Act.
(b) I am satisfied the Health Service Board is cognisant of the service needs of the local community in dealing with this matter.
(c) A small number of doctors have been paid using Medicare item number 16522. This is not currently recognised under the WA Public Hospitals Fee Schedule. Health Services should only pay on this item if there are legitimate contractual obligations in place.
(d) Most obstetric and gynaecological services in rural Western Australia are provided by General Practitioners. There are about 10 specialist gynaecologists resident outside the metropolitan area, with other metropolitan-based specialists providing visiting services. The Government assists rural obstetricians with subsidies of insurance premiums and other support through the Western Australian Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine.
(e) Kalgoorlie-Boulder Health Service
(f) See answer to (c).
(a) The Health Service Board is responsible for contractual issues under the Hospitals and Health Services Act and is the accountable authority under the Financial Administration and Audit Act.
(b) I am satisfied the Health Service Board is cognisant of the service needs of the local community in dealing with this matter.
(c) A small number of doctors have been paid using Medicare item number 16522. This is not currently recognised under the WA Public Hospitals Fee Schedule. Health Services should only pay on this item if there are legitimate contractual obligations in place.
(d) Most obstetric and gynaecological services in rural Western Australia are provided by General Practitioners. There are about 10 specialist gynaecologists resident outside the metropolitan area, with other metropolitan-based specialists providing visiting services. The Government assists rural obstetricians with subsidies of insurance premiums and other support through the Western Australian Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine.
(e) Kalgoorlie-Boulder Health Service
(f) See answer to (c).
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