❓ Opposition questions the Health Minister about conflicting statements regarding bed numbers at Princess Margaret Hospital and demands an apology to Dr. Geelhoed. The Minister defends his statements, claiming no reduction in beds and increased staffing.
AnsweredQoN 752Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the public attacks the minister made over four days against Dr Gary Geelhoed of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children over the crisis that that hospital was facing because of a shortage of beds. (1) Given that the minister said that Princess Margaret Hospital has a capacity of 234 staffed beds and his statement that Dr Geelhoed was clearly wrong in saying that that number had been reduced, how can he explain his answer to question without notice, provisionally numbered 800 in the Legislative Council on 15 November 2005, that PMH had only 200 staffed beds available in the morning and 204 beds in the afternoon? (2) Will the minister now apologise to Dr Geelhoed for getting the information wrong? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
(1) Given that the minister said that Princess Margaret Hospital has a capacity of 234 staffed beds and his statement that Dr Geelhoed was clearly wrong in saying that that number had been reduced, how can he explain his answer to question without notice, provisionally numbered 800 in the Legislative Council on 15 November 2005, that PMH had only 200 staffed beds available in the morning and 204 beds in the afternoon? (2) Will the minister now apologise to Dr Geelhoed for getting the information wrong? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
(2) Will the minister now apologise to Dr Geelhoed for getting the information wrong? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
(1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
(1) Given that the minister said that Princess Margaret Hospital has a capacity of 234 staffed beds and his statement that Dr Geelhoed was clearly wrong in saying that that number had been reduced, how can he explain his answer to question without notice, provisionally numbered 800 in the Legislative Council on 15 November 2005, that PMH had only 200 staffed beds available in the morning and 204 beds in the afternoon? (2) Will the minister now apologise to Dr Geelhoed for getting the information wrong? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
(2) Will the minister now apologise to Dr Geelhoed for getting the information wrong? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
(1)-(2) It is very pleasing to note that the opposition health spokesperson is on the ball! This occurred, what, three weeks ago. The member for Dawesville has now asked a question on the issue, after I made a statement to this house pointing out the relevant facts. As best I recollect - the member for Dawesville can check Hansard - Dr Geelhoed said in a statement that the number of beds had been continually whittled down over time. That was demonstrably not true and it was covered in my statement. Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames : It is true; I just demonstrated that through your answer. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; the member for Dawesville has not. As I recollect that question, it asked for the number of beds available in the morning and afternoon on a particular day, or something to that effect. Let me make it quite clear that the number of beds available at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is the same now as it was five years ago. There has been no whittling away of the number of beds at that hospital. The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
The other argument was that the staffing was inadequate. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of doctors working in the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital over the past four or five years. That is a dramatic increase. There has also been a modest increase in the number of nurses working in the emergency department. When we sat down with Gary Geelhoed and Professor David Forbes to discuss all three of those matters - Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Dawesville! Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : The question was put, and I looked them in the eye and said, “Your figures are wrong,” and they admitted that they were. Let me make it quite clear that was what they admitted. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No; he does not. I sat down with him and talked this matter through. Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Dr K.D. Hames : Why don’t you ring him and talk to him? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : I have. I have sat down with him and sorted these matters out. Quite frankly, it is pathetic for the member for Dawesville to come in a month after the event with something like this. Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Several members interjected. Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr T.R. Buswell : You have been caught out, haven’t you? Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, not at all. Gary Geelhoed and David Forbes sat down with us and conceded that the number of beds, the number of doctors and the number of nurses were as I have just described them.
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