❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice raises concerns about the adequacy of country health services, citing specific incidents and the former CEO's safety concerns. The Minister acknowledges the concerns, highlights government investment, and emphasizes logistical challenges.
AnsweredQoN 134Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICES
Given the National Party’s ongoing concerns about the many documented failures of the so-called hub and spoke plan for the WA Country Health Service and the latest alarming public revelation by the former CEO of the WA Country Health Service, Christine O’Farrell, that the service had become “blatantly bloody unsafe”, I ask — (1) Is the minister satisfied that Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital can provide adequate accident, emergency and other health services to such a vast area when it does not have a visiting doctor? (2) What has the minister done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation that forced Tom Price resident Jenny Gallaghan—nee Ryle—to endure an agonising road trip at night, with a bleeding internal abscess, from Tom Price District Hospital to Port Hedland Regional Hospital in mid-2006 because there was no emergency transport available? (3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY
Given the National Party’s ongoing concerns about the many documented failures of the so-called hub and spoke plan for the WA Country Health Service and the latest alarming public revelation by the former CEO of the WA Country Health Service, Christine O’Farrell, that the service had become “blatantly bloody unsafe”, I ask — (1) Is the minister satisfied that Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital can provide adequate accident, emergency and other health services to such a vast area when it does not have a visiting doctor? (2) What has the minister done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation that forced Tom Price resident Jenny Gallaghan—nee Ryle—to endure an agonising road trip at night, with a bleeding internal abscess, from Tom Price District Hospital to Port Hedland Regional Hospital in mid-2006 because there was no emergency transport available? (3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(1) Is the minister satisfied that Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital can provide adequate accident, emergency and other health services to such a vast area when it does not have a visiting doctor? (2) What has the minister done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation that forced Tom Price resident Jenny Gallaghan—nee Ryle—to endure an agonising road trip at night, with a bleeding internal abscess, from Tom Price District Hospital to Port Hedland Regional Hospital in mid-2006 because there was no emergency transport available? (3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(2) What has the minister done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation that forced Tom Price resident Jenny Gallaghan—nee Ryle—to endure an agonising road trip at night, with a bleeding internal abscess, from Tom Price District Hospital to Port Hedland Regional Hospital in mid-2006 because there was no emergency transport available? (3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(1) Is the minister satisfied that Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital can provide adequate accident, emergency and other health services to such a vast area when it does not have a visiting doctor? (2) What has the minister done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation that forced Tom Price resident Jenny Gallaghan—nee Ryle—to endure an agonising road trip at night, with a bleeding internal abscess, from Tom Price District Hospital to Port Hedland Regional Hospital in mid-2006 because there was no emergency transport available? (3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(2) What has the minister done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the situation that forced Tom Price resident Jenny Gallaghan—nee Ryle—to endure an agonising road trip at night, with a bleeding internal abscess, from Tom Price District Hospital to Port Hedland Regional Hospital in mid-2006 because there was no emergency transport available? (3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(3) What has the minister done to ensure that there is no repeat of the event that saw Dominic Epis die in the goldfields in September last year because the Royal Flying Doctor Service was unable to attend and get him from Edjudina station to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
(1)-(3) I thank the member for the question. I share his concerns about recent events at the Dumbleyung District Memorial Hospital, to which the member was indirectly referring. The staff member involved has, in my view, been appropriately dealt with. From time to time issues will arise within the health system, whether in the city or the country. Every endeavour is made to provide as comprehensive a health service as is possible. As the member knows, under the government’s regional resource centre plan for public hospitals, many more people will be able to be treated locally by specialists from their own regions. I assure the member that the government appreciates the need to provide high-quality health services in the country. The vast distances and small populations always present logistical difficulties in the provision of health services. However, there has never been such a level of government investment in country health as is currently the case. We are building new hospitals the length and breadth of most of the electorates of country members on both sides of the house. The government is building many more hospitals and investing more money into health care in the country. Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
Several members interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : I appreciate that. Community health is critically important in making sure we can meet all of those needs. When the acuity of the patient or the nature of the patient’s condition requires transfer to Perth, we are making sure that linkages to tertiary hospitals in the metropolitan area are able to meet those needs. I repeat: never has there been such an injection of money into the building of new hospitals as is currently the case in the electorates of country members.
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