❓ A parliamentary question addresses the shortage of general and orthopaedic surgeons in Albany, Western Australia, and the government's response to attract specialists and maintain surgical services.
AnsweredQoN 1339Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SURGEONS, ALBANY
(1) Albany has two general surgeons for a population of over 30 000 people. At the end of this month one general surgeon is leaving after having his work cut back to two operating lists a week. It is no longer viable for him to continue working in Albany. He also went to Mt Barker to operate. This will leave one general surgeon who I believe will not do on-call or after-hours work. What is the Government doing to attract a replacement? (2) Albany has not had an orthopaedic surgeon for many months and every man, woman or child who has broken bones is flown to Perth or makes his or her own way to Perth for treatment. What is the Government doing to attract specialist surgeons to Albany? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
(1) Albany has two general surgeons for a population of over 30 000 people. At the end of this month one general surgeon is leaving after having his work cut back to two operating lists a week. It is no longer viable for him to continue working in Albany. He also went to Mt Barker to operate. This will leave one general surgeon who I believe will not do on-call or after-hours work. What is the Government doing to attract a replacement? (2) Albany has not had an orthopaedic surgeon for many months and every man, woman or child who has broken bones is flown to Perth or makes his or her own way to Perth for treatment. What is the Government doing to attract specialist surgeons to Albany? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
(1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
(2) Albany has not had an orthopaedic surgeon for many months and every man, woman or child who has broken bones is flown to Perth or makes his or her own way to Perth for treatment. What is the Government doing to attract specialist surgeons to Albany? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
(1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
(2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
(2) Albany has not had an orthopaedic surgeon for many months and every man, woman or child who has broken bones is flown to Perth or makes his or her own way to Perth for treatment. What is the Government doing to attract specialist surgeons to Albany? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
(1) The general surgeon who is leaving Albany has worked in the area for in excess of 10 years. His sessions have not been reduced recently nor in the past. The workload is currently insufficient to maintain the two surgeons in the area on a full-time basis. The surgeon who is leaving town intends to visit Albany on a monthly basis to undertake elective surgery. Several general practitioners undertake a considerable volume of general surgery work at the Albany Regional Hospital. Negotiations regarding the after hours on-call situation are continuing with the surgeons. Nevertheless, action has already been taken to replace the surgeon who has left the area. This action seeks to establish a viable and sustainable surgical service for the lower great southern area. (2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
(2) An orthopaedic surgeon visits Albany every six weeks. He stays for a week at a time in Albany, and operates on approximately 20 patients on each occasion. The range of surgery conducted during these visits includes hip and knee replacement operations. The local experienced general practitioners carry out the minor orthopaedic work at Albany Regional Hospital that does not need the services of an orthopaedic surgeon. Efforts to attract a private orthopaedic surgeon to the area have been under way for some time. Most recently an experienced surgeon from the eastern States planned to move to Albany but his plans were put on hold due to severe family illness. The Government recognises that the visiting service is not ideal and the action to replace the general surgeon will include trying to establish a viable and sustainable resident orthopaedic service.
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