❓ Mr Hort questions the Minister for Health about Legionella test results at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. The Minister responds by highlighting the hospital's importance, age, and existing water quality management plans, emphasizing patient safety.
AnsweredQoN 311Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital—Legionella bacteria311.Mr Adam Hortto
theMinister for Health:I refer to reports
in the media today that testing for Legionella at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
returned results above the minimum benchmark 59 times from January 2023 to May 2025.(1) Since the Minister for Health was sworn in, how
many notifications has the minister received regarding positive Legionella test
results at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital?(2) Did any patients receive precautionary treatment
because of the 59 test results that exceeded the minimum benchmark?(3) Were any areas of Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital closed after any of the 59 test results that exceeded the minimum
benchmark?
theMinister for Health:I refer to reports
in the media today that testing for Legionella at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
returned results above the minimum benchmark 59 times from January 2023 to May 2025.(1) Since the Minister for Health was sworn in, how
many notifications has the minister received regarding positive Legionella test
results at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital?(2) Did any patients receive precautionary treatment
because of the 59 test results that exceeded the minimum benchmark?(3) Were any areas of Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital closed after any of the 59 test results that exceeded the minimum
benchmark?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 August 2025
Response time
0 days
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:(1)–(3) I thank the member for the
question. I am happy to provide a response to the reports that were in the
paper today. As I said in question time yesterday, and as I said again in
question time today, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is a very important part of
our health system. It treats about half a million patients every year. It is an
important part of our health system and network, but it is old infrastructure.
Of course, we continue to work with it and are very mindful about providing
timely and appropriate maintenance.I want to talk
about legionella. It is a naturally occurring bacteria that is often found in
the environment and particularly in soil and freshwater sources. It is not
uncommon for it to be found in the water supply of large buildings or complexes.
That does not just include hospitals; it can be found also in shopping centres,
aged-care facilities and universities. That is why all hospitals have water
quality management plans that include testing for Legionella and other
pathogens. I have been advised that Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has a
dedicated water quality specialist, and is regularly testing and providing a rapid
response. Any detections are immediately actioned in accordance with very
strict guidelines for Legionella control. The hospital has robust water quality
management. I want to reiterate the point that I made yesterday that the
quality and safety of the care in our health system is paramount. It is our
number one priority. Our hospitals are safe. The work that we are doing in
Charlies and in all hospital systems around the world is to ensure that we
provide high-quality care.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital—Legionella bacteria
question. I am happy to provide a response to the reports that were in the
paper today. As I said in question time yesterday, and as I said again in
question time today, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is a very important part of
our health system. It treats about half a million patients every year. It is an
important part of our health system and network, but it is old infrastructure.
Of course, we continue to work with it and are very mindful about providing
timely and appropriate maintenance.I want to talk
about legionella. It is a naturally occurring bacteria that is often found in
the environment and particularly in soil and freshwater sources. It is not
uncommon for it to be found in the water supply of large buildings or complexes.
That does not just include hospitals; it can be found also in shopping centres,
aged-care facilities and universities. That is why all hospitals have water
quality management plans that include testing for Legionella and other
pathogens. I have been advised that Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has a
dedicated water quality specialist, and is regularly testing and providing a rapid
response. Any detections are immediately actioned in accordance with very
strict guidelines for Legionella control. The hospital has robust water quality
management. I want to reiterate the point that I made yesterday that the
quality and safety of the care in our health system is paramount. It is our
number one priority. Our hospitals are safe. The work that we are doing in
Charlies and in all hospital systems around the world is to ensure that we
provide high-quality care.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital—Legionella bacteria
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