❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding obstetric services at Kaleeya and Bentley Hospitals, including on-call payments, budget, future plans, and consultation with King Edward Memorial Hospital. The response provides details on payment structures, budget allocations, and future service plans.
AnsweredQoN 7084Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) On what basis, hourly, daily, by caseload or other, are obstetricians at the Kaleeya Hospital paid to be on call, and if some other basis, please can the Minister please specify?
(2) In respect of the above question, how much are obstetricians at Kaleeya Hospital paid to be on call?
(3) Is it true that obstetricians at the Bentley Health Service are paid nothing to be on call and work on a fee for service system where they are only paid if they are called in?
(4) What is the total amount of money paid to obstetricians at Bentley Health Service to be on call in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?
(5) Does the Government intend to keep the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Service open and operating over the next five years, and if not;
(a) why is the Government intending to close the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services; and
(b) when is the Government intending to close the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services;
(6) What was the total budget for the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services in each of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?
(7) How much of the budget for the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services was actually spent (in percentage terms) in each of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?
(8) Was King Edward Memorial Hospital consulted in respect of planning obstetric services for South of the River, and
(a) if so, what was the nature of that advice; and
(b) if not, why not;
(9) How does the Health Department of Western Australia measure and compare the productivity of various hospitals and their cost efficiency?
(10) Is the Government committed to operating Bentley Health Service in its current format into the future and if not, why not?
(2) In respect of the above question, how much are obstetricians at Kaleeya Hospital paid to be on call?
(3) Is it true that obstetricians at the Bentley Health Service are paid nothing to be on call and work on a fee for service system where they are only paid if they are called in?
(4) What is the total amount of money paid to obstetricians at Bentley Health Service to be on call in each of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?
(5) Does the Government intend to keep the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Service open and operating over the next five years, and if not;
(a) why is the Government intending to close the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services; and
(b) when is the Government intending to close the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services;
(6) What was the total budget for the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services in each of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?
(7) How much of the budget for the obstetrics unit at Bentley Health Services was actually spent (in percentage terms) in each of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?
(8) Was King Edward Memorial Hospital consulted in respect of planning obstetric services for South of the River, and
(a) if so, what was the nature of that advice; and
(b) if not, why not;
(9) How does the Health Department of Western Australia measure and compare the productivity of various hospitals and their cost efficiency?
(10) Is the Government committed to operating Bentley Health Service in its current format into the future and if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 February 2012
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
81 days
(1) Salaried consultants with a Kaleeya Hospital appointment are paid according to the 2011 Department of Health / Australian Medical Association Industrial Agreement - in which case the rates are as specified in the Agreement.
Salaried consultants without a Kaleeya Hospital appointment perform only out-of-hours duties at Kaleeya, in which case the rates are negotiated.
(2) Salaried consultants with a Kaleeya Hospital appointment the current on-call rate is $17.51 per hour.
Salaried consultants without a Kaleeya Hospital appointment the current on-call rate is $125 per hour.
For visiting Medical Practitioners (VMPs) there is no on-call payment for this category as the practitioners charge VMP fees.
(3) The GP obstetricians who provide general obstetric services are paid on a fee for services basis only with no on call fees. The GPs provide ante natal care for these patients in their own rooms and then manage the deliveries and post natal care for these patients on a roster with each doctor participating in a day on the roster. For the obstetricians who provide caesarean section cover they are paid an on call fee and then fee for service if called in for a procedure or to review a patient.
(4) VMP clinicians are not generally paid on call fees as this forms part of the total VMP payment package and it is not possible to extract this from the total payments to the individual.
(5) The Obstetrics unit at Bentley will continue to operate as it is currently until the obstetric unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital opens in 2014.
(a) A recent review of demand for maternity services suggests that the facilities planned at Fiona Stanley, Rockingham and Armadale hospitals will provide adequate access to birthing services.
(b) The demand at Bentley Hospital will be reviewed after Fiona Stanley Hospital opens in 2014, before making a final decision on the future of the service.
(6) There is no separate budget for obstetrics but the total medical payments were made via VMP or salary in the following years:
2007/08: VMP $1,222,750
2008/09: VMP $1,401,000
2009/10: VMP $1,672,500 / Salary $1,200
2010/11: VMP $1,718,000 / Salary $3,800
2011/12: VMP $921,555 / Salary $13,000
(7) 100%
(8)(a - b)
The South Metropolitan Area Health Service (SMAHS) has taken the unique opportunity with the opening of Fiona Stanley and the changing roles of hospitals across the SMAHS in line with the
Clinical Services Framework 2010-2020
to invite clinician input into the process and design of the service beyond 2014. Obstetrics and Gynaecology comprise one of the clinical clusters and the clinical lead for this cluster is a senior obstetric consultant at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH). A review is currently being undertaken of how obstetric services are delivered across SMAHS.
(9) The Department of Health uses data to display a range of Key Performance Indicators. This de-identified data is used to compare the performance of hospitals of a similar size and structure in Australia and New Zealand across a wide range of parameters. This gives a much clearer picture of total hospital performance nationally and is a far better measure than comparing hospital A and B in Perth alone.
(10) The Government is committed to continuing to operate the Bentley Health Service now and into the future and it has a defined role in the
Clinical Services Framework 2010-2020.
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Salaried consultants without a Kaleeya Hospital appointment perform only out-of-hours duties at Kaleeya, in which case the rates are negotiated.
(2) Salaried consultants with a Kaleeya Hospital appointment the current on-call rate is $17.51 per hour.
Salaried consultants without a Kaleeya Hospital appointment the current on-call rate is $125 per hour.
For visiting Medical Practitioners (VMPs) there is no on-call payment for this category as the practitioners charge VMP fees.
(3) The GP obstetricians who provide general obstetric services are paid on a fee for services basis only with no on call fees. The GPs provide ante natal care for these patients in their own rooms and then manage the deliveries and post natal care for these patients on a roster with each doctor participating in a day on the roster. For the obstetricians who provide caesarean section cover they are paid an on call fee and then fee for service if called in for a procedure or to review a patient.
(4) VMP clinicians are not generally paid on call fees as this forms part of the total VMP payment package and it is not possible to extract this from the total payments to the individual.
(5) The Obstetrics unit at Bentley will continue to operate as it is currently until the obstetric unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital opens in 2014.
(a) A recent review of demand for maternity services suggests that the facilities planned at Fiona Stanley, Rockingham and Armadale hospitals will provide adequate access to birthing services.
(b) The demand at Bentley Hospital will be reviewed after Fiona Stanley Hospital opens in 2014, before making a final decision on the future of the service.
(6) There is no separate budget for obstetrics but the total medical payments were made via VMP or salary in the following years:
2007/08: VMP $1,222,750
2008/09: VMP $1,401,000
2009/10: VMP $1,672,500 / Salary $1,200
2010/11: VMP $1,718,000 / Salary $3,800
2011/12: VMP $921,555 / Salary $13,000
(7) 100%
(8)(a - b)
The South Metropolitan Area Health Service (SMAHS) has taken the unique opportunity with the opening of Fiona Stanley and the changing roles of hospitals across the SMAHS in line with the
Clinical Services Framework 2010-2020
to invite clinician input into the process and design of the service beyond 2014. Obstetrics and Gynaecology comprise one of the clinical clusters and the clinical lead for this cluster is a senior obstetric consultant at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH). A review is currently being undertaken of how obstetric services are delivered across SMAHS.
(9) The Department of Health uses data to display a range of Key Performance Indicators. This de-identified data is used to compare the performance of hospitals of a similar size and structure in Australia and New Zealand across a wide range of parameters. This gives a much clearer picture of total hospital performance nationally and is a far better measure than comparing hospital A and B in Perth alone.
(10) The Government is committed to continuing to operate the Bentley Health Service now and into the future and it has a defined role in the
Clinical Services Framework 2010-2020.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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