❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health about reported doctor walkouts at Fiona Stanley Hospital and suspension of training programs. The Minister denies a mass walkout, clarifies staff movements, and acknowledges increased patient pressure.
AnsweredQoN 236Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIONA
STANLEY HOSPITAL — STAFFING
236. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the very concerning media reports today that doctors
are walking out of Fiona Stanley Hospital, one mid-shift.
(1) Can the
minister confirm the walkout of doctors, and why has this happened?
(2) Can he
also confirm that departments within Fiona Stanley Hospital have had their
training operations suspended pending the resolutions within the hospital?
STANLEY HOSPITAL — STAFFING
236. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the very concerning media reports today that doctors
are walking out of Fiona Stanley Hospital, one mid-shift.
(1) Can the
minister confirm the walkout of doctors, and why has this happened?
(2) Can he
also confirm that departments within Fiona Stanley Hospital have had their
training operations suspended pending the resolutions within the hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Funnily enough, I have a little briefing note
here.
Mr D.J. Kelly :
Does it mention Serco?
Dr
K.D. HAMES : No, it does not mention Serco; there is no reason why it
should. It refers to doctors and nurses and states that working at the hospital
are 368 allied health staff, 922 medical staff, 2 137 nursing staff and 859 staff
classed as ''other'' and who are probably the staff the member
for Kwinana is talking about. I might add that they are severely outnumbered by
the medical and nursing staff.
I heard the lead-in to the story
that was running on radio 6PR this morning, which painted this terrible picture
of how bad things were at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Then I heard Dr Russell-Weisz,
who is obviously still managing that hospital, respond to the story that was
put out. The story put out was that six anaesthetists and three emergency staff
had resigned all in a state of dissatisfaction over what was happening at the
hospital. I will go through exactly what did happen and what the state of play
is. I am talking about the so-called six anaesthetists who have suddenly
resigned in protest. Two anaesthetic staff have resigned to seek work at
another hospital, two have gone to work in other hospitals, one got a promotion
and has moved to an area of higher pay, and three other consultants have
requested a decrease in working hours from their current hours. Members should
remember that there are 46 full-time equivalents, which equates to a headcount
of between 63 and 65. Of the 65 headcount, just a small number have moved, for
various reasons. Of the so-called three emergency department doctors who went,
one emergency doctor has resigned, one consultant has taken unpaid leave, and
the one who left is now back at work.
There are 100 medical staff working in that area and they are
under a lot of pressure. There is no doubt that we have had a significant
increase in the number of patients—in some cases well over 300 a day,
and that is far greater than one would have anticipated from the reduction and
the loss of the emergency department at Fremantle Hospital. There has been a
huge increase in other presentations, and those doctors and nurses and other
allied health staff are under a lot of pressure, so it is difficult.
Occasionally we find, for whatever reason, people have other pressures that are
brought to bear, and that can be the reason for them leaving. Dr Russell-Weisz
has committed to talking to those staff to ensure that nothing is going on that
could or should be fixed. This is just the normal day-to-day running of
services within a hospital. Staff come and go through our hospitals every
single day. This is nothing untoward.
here.
Mr D.J. Kelly :
Does it mention Serco?
Dr
K.D. HAMES : No, it does not mention Serco; there is no reason why it
should. It refers to doctors and nurses and states that working at the hospital
are 368 allied health staff, 922 medical staff, 2 137 nursing staff and 859 staff
classed as ''other'' and who are probably the staff the member
for Kwinana is talking about. I might add that they are severely outnumbered by
the medical and nursing staff.
I heard the lead-in to the story
that was running on radio 6PR this morning, which painted this terrible picture
of how bad things were at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Then I heard Dr Russell-Weisz,
who is obviously still managing that hospital, respond to the story that was
put out. The story put out was that six anaesthetists and three emergency staff
had resigned all in a state of dissatisfaction over what was happening at the
hospital. I will go through exactly what did happen and what the state of play
is. I am talking about the so-called six anaesthetists who have suddenly
resigned in protest. Two anaesthetic staff have resigned to seek work at
another hospital, two have gone to work in other hospitals, one got a promotion
and has moved to an area of higher pay, and three other consultants have
requested a decrease in working hours from their current hours. Members should
remember that there are 46 full-time equivalents, which equates to a headcount
of between 63 and 65. Of the 65 headcount, just a small number have moved, for
various reasons. Of the so-called three emergency department doctors who went,
one emergency doctor has resigned, one consultant has taken unpaid leave, and
the one who left is now back at work.
There are 100 medical staff working in that area and they are
under a lot of pressure. There is no doubt that we have had a significant
increase in the number of patients—in some cases well over 300 a day,
and that is far greater than one would have anticipated from the reduction and
the loss of the emergency department at Fremantle Hospital. There has been a
huge increase in other presentations, and those doctors and nurses and other
allied health staff are under a lot of pressure, so it is difficult.
Occasionally we find, for whatever reason, people have other pressures that are
brought to bear, and that can be the reason for them leaving. Dr Russell-Weisz
has committed to talking to those staff to ensure that nothing is going on that
could or should be fixed. This is just the normal day-to-day running of
services within a hospital. Staff come and go through our hospitals every
single day. This is nothing untoward.
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