Mr. Blayney questions the Minister for Health about funding for additional dialysis chairs at Geraldton Hospital, highlighting past investments. The Minister responds that there are no plans to increase chairs in Geraldton, but the government is focused on growing capacity across the regions.

AnsweredQoN 736Legislative Assembly
Asked
4 September 2019
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

DIALYSIS — GERALDTON
736. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for Health:
I
have a supplementary question. Given the late Bob Kucera funded new dialysis
chairs for Geraldton hospital in 2002 —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry if I did
not hear the news, but I think Mr Kucera is still with us.
Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : I sincerely
apologise for saying that. The person in my office who researched the question
will be —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members,
please!
Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : I will have
to cancel the flowers. I am sorry about that.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Water, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr I.C. BLAYNEY : Given
former minister Bob Kucera funded new dialysis chairs for Geraldton hospital's
renal unit in 2002 and Kim Hames funded the new $1.2 million Garburdiny Renal
Centre in 2015, when will the government commit to funding more chairs
at Geraldton, because it is obvious to all of us that the demand will increase?

AnswerView source ↗

As I just said in my answer, we are
not planning to grow the number of chairs in Geraldton. We are trying to grow the chairs right across the regions, including in
the member for North West Central's electorate. From that perspective ,
I think it is important that we remember who is at the centre of this
discussion—that is, the patients. We want to put them first and deliver
the health services where they live and when they need it. I think the WA
Country Health Service is doing important work in maintaining capacity right
across the region, not only in Geraldton. I add that all Ministers for Health
throughout history have been associated with investing and financing the growth
of hospital services. However, only one sort of government invests in the
member for Geraldton's hospital and that is the Labor government under
Geoff Gallop and the Labor government under Mark McGowan.

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