❓ Mr. Graham questions the availability and planned changes to specialist medical services in various regional WA towns. The response details specialist availability and a planned relocation of paediatric and obstetric services from Derby to Broome.
AnsweredQoN 604Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) Karratha; (c) Wickham; (d) Tom Price; (e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(c) Wickham; (d) Tom Price; (e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(d) Tom Price; (e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(c) Wickham; (d) Tom Price; (e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(d) Tom Price; (e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(e) Paraburdoo; (f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(f) Broome; (g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(g) Derby; (h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(h) Kununurra; (i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(i) Halls Creek; and (j) Fitzroy Crossing?
(j) Fitzroy Crossing?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 February 2003
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
84 days
1.
(a) Port Hedland – General Surgeon, Paediatrician, Obstetrician, Anaesthetist, Physician (General Medicine), Radiologist
(b) Karratha – Nil
(c) Wickham – Nil
(d) Tom Price – Nil
(e) Paraburdoo – Nil
(f) Broome - Regional Surgeon
(g) Derby - Regional Surgeon, Paediatrician, Paediatric Registrar and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
(h) Kununurra - Nil
(i) Halls Creek - Nil
(j) Fitzroy Crossing - Nil
2.
(a) No changes planned.
(b-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) It is proposed that the Regional Paediatrician, Paediatric Registrar and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist will be relocated from Derby to Broome within three years.
(h-j) Not applicable.
3.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) To ensure the Specialists are strategically placed in order to be able to service the entire Kimberley population in an effective way. This is currently very difficult from Derby where there are no commercial air linkages to the East Kimberley. Also to improve the attraction and retention of Specialists.
(h-j) Not applicable.
4.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) It is difficult to quantify whether or not there will be a direct cost or savings associated with the change, as this is dependent on future factors which can only be estimated at this time.
Specialist staffing costs such as housing, salary, and recruitment are pre-existing and will not be affected by the relocations. There may be a cost in relocating the specialists (ie: removal cost) which would not exceed $10,000 in total for the one-off move. However, it is not known whether the same specialists will still be employed at the time of the move, and the cost of relocation may not be necessary if a new incumbent is relocated directly to Broome at the time of the change.
Costs incurred by those who may need to access PATS will be offset by the envisaged overall reduction in PATS costs incurred by people from Broome who will now no longer need to travel to Derby.
It is planned to lease offsite office accommodation for the specialists until such time as infrastructure on the hospital campus is expanded. Lease costs will be approximately $10,000 per annum.
(h-j) Not applicable.
5.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) It is estimated that specialists' travel costs (hotel accommodation, petrol, and vehicle wear and tear) will diminish. Hotel costs in Derby are less than Broome, and over the course of a year, it is estimated that approximately $2,000 will be saved. In addition, the specialists currently drive to and from Broome to catch flights to the East Kimberley. Therefore there are further anticipated savings.
(h-j) Not applicable.
6.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) Savings made through these changes will be used to offset costs associated with the move. Reduced specialist travel time will be redirected to budgets for patient related activities.
(h-j) Not applicable.
(a) Port Hedland – General Surgeon, Paediatrician, Obstetrician, Anaesthetist, Physician (General Medicine), Radiologist
(b) Karratha – Nil
(c) Wickham – Nil
(d) Tom Price – Nil
(e) Paraburdoo – Nil
(f) Broome - Regional Surgeon
(g) Derby - Regional Surgeon, Paediatrician, Paediatric Registrar and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
(h) Kununurra - Nil
(i) Halls Creek - Nil
(j) Fitzroy Crossing - Nil
2.
(a) No changes planned.
(b-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) It is proposed that the Regional Paediatrician, Paediatric Registrar and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist will be relocated from Derby to Broome within three years.
(h-j) Not applicable.
3.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) To ensure the Specialists are strategically placed in order to be able to service the entire Kimberley population in an effective way. This is currently very difficult from Derby where there are no commercial air linkages to the East Kimberley. Also to improve the attraction and retention of Specialists.
(h-j) Not applicable.
4.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) It is difficult to quantify whether or not there will be a direct cost or savings associated with the change, as this is dependent on future factors which can only be estimated at this time.
Specialist staffing costs such as housing, salary, and recruitment are pre-existing and will not be affected by the relocations. There may be a cost in relocating the specialists (ie: removal cost) which would not exceed $10,000 in total for the one-off move. However, it is not known whether the same specialists will still be employed at the time of the move, and the cost of relocation may not be necessary if a new incumbent is relocated directly to Broome at the time of the change.
Costs incurred by those who may need to access PATS will be offset by the envisaged overall reduction in PATS costs incurred by people from Broome who will now no longer need to travel to Derby.
It is planned to lease offsite office accommodation for the specialists until such time as infrastructure on the hospital campus is expanded. Lease costs will be approximately $10,000 per annum.
(h-j) Not applicable.
5.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) It is estimated that specialists' travel costs (hotel accommodation, petrol, and vehicle wear and tear) will diminish. Hotel costs in Derby are less than Broome, and over the course of a year, it is estimated that approximately $2,000 will be saved. In addition, the specialists currently drive to and from Broome to catch flights to the East Kimberley. Therefore there are further anticipated savings.
(h-j) Not applicable.
6.
(a-e) Not applicable.
(f-g) Savings made through these changes will be used to offset costs associated with the move. Reduced specialist travel time will be redirected to budgets for patient related activities.
(h-j) Not applicable.
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