❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses a breach of infection protocols at several North West hospitals, inquiring about the nature of the breach, patient testing, support for infected individuals, and measures to prevent future occurrences. The Minister for Health provides answers detailing the cause, testing progress, support offered, and existing protocols.
AnsweredQoN 227Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NORTH WEST HOSPITALS — INFECTION PROTOCOLS BREACHES
I refer to a recent announcement that 250 patients will be contacted as a result of a breach of the infection protocols at Port Hedland Regional Hospital, Nickol Bay Hospital and Derby Regional Hospital. (1) How did the breach of infection protocols occur? (2) Has any patient testing begun; and, if yes, have any patients tested positive to any infections? (3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
I refer to a recent announcement that 250 patients will be contacted as a result of a breach of the infection protocols at Port Hedland Regional Hospital, Nickol Bay Hospital and Derby Regional Hospital. (1) How did the breach of infection protocols occur? (2) Has any patient testing begun; and, if yes, have any patients tested positive to any infections? (3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(1) How did the breach of infection protocols occur? (2) Has any patient testing begun; and, if yes, have any patients tested positive to any infections? (3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(2) Has any patient testing begun; and, if yes, have any patients tested positive to any infections? (3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(1) How did the breach of infection protocols occur? (2) Has any patient testing begun; and, if yes, have any patients tested positive to any infections? (3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(2) Has any patient testing begun; and, if yes, have any patients tested positive to any infections? (3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(3) What support or compensation will be offered to anyone who may have been infected? (4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(4) What endeavours will be made to alert patients who may not be immediately contactable? (5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(5) What protocols are now in place to ensure that this does not happen again? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(1) The breach occurred when a doctor did not follow established infection control practices and reused a piece of equipment. (2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(2) Yes, patient testing at the WA Country Health Service’s Pilbara clinic commenced on Friday, 30 April 2010. The WA Country Health Service is advising patients that there is a 10-day turnaround for results. (3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(3) Nobody has been found to be infected to date. Treatment, support and counselling will be offered to all relevant patients. (4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(4) If patients are not contactable by phone, they will be sent a registered letter. If the letter is unable to be delivered, further attempts will be made to contact the patient through the patient’s original referring doctor. (5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
(5) The WA Country Health Service has always carried out best-practice infection control procedures. The same patient and staff safety and health standards and practices are used throughout all Western Australian public hospitals.
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