❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding doctor coverage, patient transfers, bullying complaints, transfer times, staff resignations, and exit interviews at small regional hospitals in the Great Southern region.
AnsweredQoN 4110Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to small regional hospitals in the Great Southern region and ask: (a) how many weekends in the past 12 months has there been no doctor providing cover at each of the small regional hospitals in the Great Southern Region, including: Denmark Hospital, Gnowerangerup Hospital, Katanning Hospital, Kojonup, Jerramungup Health Centre, Ravensthorpe District Health Centre and Plantagenet Hospital (number of weekends without cover, listed by hospital); (b) how many patient transfers to Albany, and/or Esperance Hospital have occurred on weekends at the following small regional hospitals in the Great Southern region over the last 12 months, because of a lack of a doctor at the hospital (no of transfers for this reason by hospital, including: Denmark, Gnowerangerup Hospital, Katanning Hospital, Kojonup Hospital, Jerramungup Health Centre and Plantagenet Hospital and Ravensthorpe District Health Centre; (c) how many formal complaints of bullying have been recorded at each small regional hospital in the Great Southern Region in the past 12 months, listed by hospital, including the following hospitals: Ravensthorpe District Health Centre, Denmark, Gnowerangerup, Katanning, Kojonup, Jeramungup Hospital, Plantagenet Hospital and Ravensthorpe District Health Centre; (d) what is the average transfer time (by ambulance) from each small regional hospital in the Great Southern Region to Albany Hospital, listed by hospital; (e) how many (if any) staff resignations have there been at each small regional hospital in the Great Southern region over the last 12 months; and (f) were exit interviews conducted among staff resigning from small regional hospitals in the Great Southern over the last 12 months and if so, what were the broad categories cited for the resignations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2015
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
56 days
(a) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, there was a doctor or doctors providing cover on all weekends at Denmark Hospital, Gnowangerup Hospital, Katanning Hospital, Kojonup Hospital and Plantagenet Hospital.
The solo Ravensthorpe GP is off duty on a majority of weekends, but is available to respond to life threatening presentations if in town. Should the GP be away from Ravensthorpe on a weekend, medical support is provided by the Emergency Telehealth Service via videoconference and/or the Albany Hospital Emergency Department via telephone.
The question is not applicable to Jerramungup Health Centre as this is a nursing post and there is no on call GP roster for this site.
(b) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, the number of patient transfers to Albany, and/or Esperance Hospital that occurred on weekends at each small hospital in the Great Southern because of a lack of a doctor at the hospital is as follows: 19 from Ravensthorpe District Health Centre, including 15 transfers to Albany Hospital and four transfers to Esperance Hospital; and nil from Denmark Hospital, Gnowangerup Hospital, Katanning Hospital, Kojonup Hospital and Plantagenet Hospital. This question is not applicable to Jerramungup Health Centre as this is a nursing post.
Ravensthorpe patient transfers when the GP is not on call or available over weekends occur following nurse triage/assessment and consultation with the ETS and/or Albany Hospital emergency department medical staff.
(c) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, the number of formal complaints of bullying recorded at each small hospital in the Great Southern is as follows: one at Katanning Hospital and Plantagenet Hospital; and nil at Denmark Hospital, Gnowangerup Hospital, Kojonup Hospital, Jerramungup Health Centre and Ravensthorpe District Health Centre.
(d) The average transfer times (by ambulance) from each small hospital in the Great Southern to Albany Hospital are as follows: 45 minutes from Denmark Hospital; 2.5 hours from Gnowangerup Hospital; 2.5 hours from Katanning Hospital; 2 hours from Kojonup Hospital; 2 hours from Jerramungup Health Centre; 4 hours from Ravensthorpe District Health Centre; and 45 minutes from Plantagenet Hospital.
Note, whilst Jerramungup Health Centre has been included in this answer, it is a nursing post and not a hospital.
(e) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, the number of staff resignations at each small hospital in the Great Southern is as follows: 12 at Denmark Hospital; two at Gnowangerup Hospital; 19 at Katanning Hospital; five at Kojonup Hospital; two at Jerramungup Health Centre; one at Ravensthorpe District Health Centre; and 14 at Plantagenet Hospital.
(f) Exit surveys for WA Health staff employees are voluntary. In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, six Great Southern staff completed an Exit Survey and all cited 'personal reasons' as the main reason for their exit.
The solo Ravensthorpe GP is off duty on a majority of weekends, but is available to respond to life threatening presentations if in town. Should the GP be away from Ravensthorpe on a weekend, medical support is provided by the Emergency Telehealth Service via videoconference and/or the Albany Hospital Emergency Department via telephone.
The question is not applicable to Jerramungup Health Centre as this is a nursing post and there is no on call GP roster for this site.
(b) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, the number of patient transfers to Albany, and/or Esperance Hospital that occurred on weekends at each small hospital in the Great Southern because of a lack of a doctor at the hospital is as follows: 19 from Ravensthorpe District Health Centre, including 15 transfers to Albany Hospital and four transfers to Esperance Hospital; and nil from Denmark Hospital, Gnowangerup Hospital, Katanning Hospital, Kojonup Hospital and Plantagenet Hospital. This question is not applicable to Jerramungup Health Centre as this is a nursing post.
Ravensthorpe patient transfers when the GP is not on call or available over weekends occur following nurse triage/assessment and consultation with the ETS and/or Albany Hospital emergency department medical staff.
(c) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, the number of formal complaints of bullying recorded at each small hospital in the Great Southern is as follows: one at Katanning Hospital and Plantagenet Hospital; and nil at Denmark Hospital, Gnowangerup Hospital, Kojonup Hospital, Jerramungup Health Centre and Ravensthorpe District Health Centre.
(d) The average transfer times (by ambulance) from each small hospital in the Great Southern to Albany Hospital are as follows: 45 minutes from Denmark Hospital; 2.5 hours from Gnowangerup Hospital; 2.5 hours from Katanning Hospital; 2 hours from Kojonup Hospital; 2 hours from Jerramungup Health Centre; 4 hours from Ravensthorpe District Health Centre; and 45 minutes from Plantagenet Hospital.
Note, whilst Jerramungup Health Centre has been included in this answer, it is a nursing post and not a hospital.
(e) In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, the number of staff resignations at each small hospital in the Great Southern is as follows: 12 at Denmark Hospital; two at Gnowangerup Hospital; 19 at Katanning Hospital; five at Kojonup Hospital; two at Jerramungup Health Centre; one at Ravensthorpe District Health Centre; and 14 at Plantagenet Hospital.
(f) Exit surveys for WA Health staff employees are voluntary. In the period 1 June 2014 to 16 June 2015, six Great Southern staff completed an Exit Survey and all cited 'personal reasons' as the main reason for their exit.
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