❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions the Premier about the Health Minister's alleged insensitive comments regarding conditions at Princess Margaret Hospital. The Premier defends the Minister, stating the comments were taken out of context and highlights the government's commitment to building a new children's hospital.
AnsweredQoN 213Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN — MINISTER FOR HEALTH'S
COMMENTS
213. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the comments made by the Minister for Health
regarding the conditions that sick children and their distressed families are
subjected to at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children—that we have
just got to ''put up with it''.
(1) Has the Premier disciplined the
Minister for Health for his arrogant and out-of-touch comments?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
COMMENTS
213. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the comments made by the Minister for Health
regarding the conditions that sick children and their distressed families are
subjected to at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children—that we have
just got to ''put up with it''.
(1) Has the Premier disciplined the
Minister for Health for his arrogant and out-of-touch comments?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I believe the Leader of the Opposition is referring to an article that, I
think, appeared in The West Australian under the headline ''Hames tells PMH critics to 'put up with it'''.
I am advised by the Minister for Health that he did not say that and that the
headline was taken out of context; I think the article itself was probably —
Mr M. McGowan : He
didn't say we've just got to ''put up with it''?
Ms M.M. Quirk : He
didn't say it was out of context.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member can ask a question if she wishes to.
It is a fact that Princess Margaret Hospital —
Ms M.M. Quirk : ''Out
of context'' implies he said it.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you can ask questions. This is
question time. If you want to ask a question, put your name down and ask a
question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The headline is certainly out of context. We need to, I think, acknowledge the
reality: Princess Margaret Hospital is 100 years old. Most of us as parents
have had some involvement, I would suggest, in that hospital. There is great
care, great work by the staff there, but it is somewhat of a rabbit warren; it
does not work to the standards that we would want in a modern hospital. That is
why this government took a decision to defer the stadium for two years and to
bring forward the children's hospital, which is well under construction—I
drive past it every morning—at an amazing pace of development. It will
be a world-class children's hospital and, obviously, that is the focus
of planning. In the meantime —
Mr R.H. Cook : That
commentary's about the equipment, not about the corridors!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
In the meantime, Princess Margaret continues to provide high-quality care, and,
yes, it is cramped. It is cramped; its use-by date has come. We will have to
get through the next couple of years until the new children's hospital
is operational, but I would like to reassure parents that everything is done to
care for children. The health minister is making some alterations to make sure
there is more space and comfort for parents and the like. Everyone is totally
sympathetic to severely ill children. But it is significant, and the public of
Western Australia has a lot of commonsense; it can see that this government is
building new hospitals and has made the decision to build the new children's
hospital. Sure, it is cramped, it is difficult for staff, but everyone realises
that the bigger result will be the new hospital. In the meantime, I assure
parents that everything is being done to make sure there is high quality of
care in both health care and the environment in which those children and their
parents find themselves during this interim period.
I believe the Leader of the Opposition is referring to an article that, I
think, appeared in The West Australian under the headline ''Hames tells PMH critics to 'put up with it'''.
I am advised by the Minister for Health that he did not say that and that the
headline was taken out of context; I think the article itself was probably —
Mr M. McGowan : He
didn't say we've just got to ''put up with it''?
Ms M.M. Quirk : He
didn't say it was out of context.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member can ask a question if she wishes to.
It is a fact that Princess Margaret Hospital —
Ms M.M. Quirk : ''Out
of context'' implies he said it.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you can ask questions. This is
question time. If you want to ask a question, put your name down and ask a
question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The headline is certainly out of context. We need to, I think, acknowledge the
reality: Princess Margaret Hospital is 100 years old. Most of us as parents
have had some involvement, I would suggest, in that hospital. There is great
care, great work by the staff there, but it is somewhat of a rabbit warren; it
does not work to the standards that we would want in a modern hospital. That is
why this government took a decision to defer the stadium for two years and to
bring forward the children's hospital, which is well under construction—I
drive past it every morning—at an amazing pace of development. It will
be a world-class children's hospital and, obviously, that is the focus
of planning. In the meantime —
Mr R.H. Cook : That
commentary's about the equipment, not about the corridors!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
In the meantime, Princess Margaret continues to provide high-quality care, and,
yes, it is cramped. It is cramped; its use-by date has come. We will have to
get through the next couple of years until the new children's hospital
is operational, but I would like to reassure parents that everything is done to
care for children. The health minister is making some alterations to make sure
there is more space and comfort for parents and the like. Everyone is totally
sympathetic to severely ill children. But it is significant, and the public of
Western Australia has a lot of commonsense; it can see that this government is
building new hospitals and has made the decision to build the new children's
hospital. Sure, it is cramped, it is difficult for staff, but everyone realises
that the bigger result will be the new hospital. In the meantime, I assure
parents that everything is being done to make sure there is high quality of
care in both health care and the environment in which those children and their
parents find themselves during this interim period.
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