❓ Mr Frank Paolino asks the Premier about the government's role in securing the future of Mount Hospital and how it aligns with their health investment record. The Premier responds by highlighting the government's record health investment and their intervention to secure Mount Hospital's operations, protecting services, jobs, and alleviating pressure on public hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 306Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Mount Hospital
306. Mr Frank Paolino to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's prioritisation of health services, ensuring that Western
Australians, including those living in my community of Mount Lawley, have
access to the health care they need when they need it.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house how
securing the future operations of Mount Hospital will ensure that both public
and private patients will continue to receive quality health care?
(2) Can the Premier advise the house how
this support builds on this government's record of investment in our public
hospitals?
306. Mr Frank Paolino to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's prioritisation of health services, ensuring that Western
Australians, including those living in my community of Mount Lawley, have
access to the health care they need when they need it.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house how
securing the future operations of Mount Hospital will ensure that both public
and private patients will continue to receive quality health care?
(2) Can the Premier advise the house how
this support builds on this government's record of investment in our public
hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. Mr
Speaker, my government is committed to making sure that every Western
Australian can get the health care they need when they need it. That is why we
are investing a record $9.1 billion in investment in health and mental
health in this state budget. The member for Mount Lawley, though, is not
accepting just $9.1 billion. Such is his advocacy on behalf of his
community, the government has been forced to buy a hospital, Mr Speaker! We
bought the member for Mount Lawley a hospital in Mt Lawley Hospital. We are
building a hospital. We are redeveloping a hospital and, now, we are securing
the future of one. Mount Hospital has cared for Western Australians for more
than 40 years. We could not stand by and let its future hang in the balance,
and so we acted. We stepped in and helped secure—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition!
Mr Roger Cook: —an agreement with Bethesda Health Care
to take over its operations. This agreement means that we are protecting a 170-bed
hospital. This agreement also means safeguarding WA's largest private critical
care unit. It means patients can continue accessing specialist services where
and when they need it. It means that jobs are protected, and it means
alleviating pressure on our public hospitals. This is what responsible decision-making
from an experienced government looks like: acting early, acting decisively, delivering—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Mr Roger Cook: —delivering certainty: certainty for
patients, for staff and for our health system; to keep services running; to
ease pressure in our hospitals; and to strengthen healthcare access across our
state.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, please stop
interjecting.
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker, we will always do what is
right for WA, and we will always ensure that our healthcare system can continue
to provide high-quality care for those that need it most.
The Speaker: Thank you, Premier.
Members of the
opposition, your interjections are excessive early on in question time. If you
could just stop doing it, that would be great. Member for Kalamunda.
Speaker, my government is committed to making sure that every Western
Australian can get the health care they need when they need it. That is why we
are investing a record $9.1 billion in investment in health and mental
health in this state budget. The member for Mount Lawley, though, is not
accepting just $9.1 billion. Such is his advocacy on behalf of his
community, the government has been forced to buy a hospital, Mr Speaker! We
bought the member for Mount Lawley a hospital in Mt Lawley Hospital. We are
building a hospital. We are redeveloping a hospital and, now, we are securing
the future of one. Mount Hospital has cared for Western Australians for more
than 40 years. We could not stand by and let its future hang in the balance,
and so we acted. We stepped in and helped secure—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition!
Mr Roger Cook: —an agreement with Bethesda Health Care
to take over its operations. This agreement means that we are protecting a 170-bed
hospital. This agreement also means safeguarding WA's largest private critical
care unit. It means patients can continue accessing specialist services where
and when they need it. It means that jobs are protected, and it means
alleviating pressure on our public hospitals. This is what responsible decision-making
from an experienced government looks like: acting early, acting decisively, delivering—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members!
Mr Roger Cook: —delivering certainty: certainty for
patients, for staff and for our health system; to keep services running; to
ease pressure in our hospitals; and to strengthen healthcare access across our
state.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, please stop
interjecting.
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker, we will always do what is
right for WA, and we will always ensure that our healthcare system can continue
to provide high-quality care for those that need it most.
The Speaker: Thank you, Premier.
Members of the
opposition, your interjections are excessive early on in question time. If you
could just stop doing it, that would be great. Member for Kalamunda.
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