❓ Hon Martin Aldridge questions the Minister for Health regarding the closure of maternity services in Carnarvon, the impact on families, and reimbursement of expenses. The Minister confirms 186 families have been supported and relocation costs are covered, but no date is set for reopening.
AnsweredQoN 40Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MATERNITY SERVICES — CARNARVON
40. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the state government's
decision to close maternity services in Carnarvon, forcing expectant families
to travel up to 1 000 kilometres to give birth in Geraldton or Perth.
(1) How many
families have been impacted since the cancellation of maternity services in
February 2022?
(2) Has a date
been set to resume maternity services in Carnarvon?
(3) Noting media
reports last week that several families have been left with out-of-pocket
expenses as a result of the closure, can the
minister confirm that every family that has been required to travel to access
maternity services has been fully reimbursed for their transport,
accommodation and any other associated costs as a result of the government's
decision to close maternity services in Carnarvon?
(4) If no to (3),
why not?
40. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the state government's
decision to close maternity services in Carnarvon, forcing expectant families
to travel up to 1 000 kilometres to give birth in Geraldton or Perth.
(1) How many
families have been impacted since the cancellation of maternity services in
February 2022?
(2) Has a date
been set to resume maternity services in Carnarvon?
(3) Noting media
reports last week that several families have been left with out-of-pocket
expenses as a result of the closure, can the
minister confirm that every family that has been required to travel to access
maternity services has been fully reimbursed for their transport,
accommodation and any other associated costs as a result of the government's
decision to close maternity services in Carnarvon?
(4) If no to (3),
why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following
answer has been provided by the minister.
(1) Since February 2022, 186 families
have been supported to birth at alternative health services.
(2) No. This is a
temporary closure of maternity services in Carnarvon, with the WA Country
Health Service continuing to undertake work to ensure that consistent and
sustainable workforce coverage is maintained in Carnarvon.
(3) Since
February 2022, Carnarvon women have been fully funded to relocate to access
birthing services that are temporarily
unavailable at Carnarvon Health Campus. This includes the full cost of
accommodation, travel and groceries, on the provision of receipts.
Reimbursement of all maternity-related expenses is facilitated through a local
process to ensure that Carnarvon women are paid for their expenses while they
are away from their community.
(4) Not applicable.
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following
answer has been provided by the minister.
(1) Since February 2022, 186 families
have been supported to birth at alternative health services.
(2) No. This is a
temporary closure of maternity services in Carnarvon, with the WA Country
Health Service continuing to undertake work to ensure that consistent and
sustainable workforce coverage is maintained in Carnarvon.
(3) Since
February 2022, Carnarvon women have been fully funded to relocate to access
birthing services that are temporarily
unavailable at Carnarvon Health Campus. This includes the full cost of
accommodation, travel and groceries, on the provision of receipts.
Reimbursement of all maternity-related expenses is facilitated through a local
process to ensure that Carnarvon women are paid for their expenses while they
are away from their community.
(4) Not applicable.
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