❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding the failure to appoint a paediatric radio-oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital, despite identifying a suitable candidate. The Minister admits a lack of up-to-date information but provides a tentative explanation.
AnsweredQoN 831Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN — PAEDIATRIC
RADIO-ONCOLOGISTS
831. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health :
I refer to the chronic shortage of
paediatric radio-oncologists in Western Australia and efforts by the Department
of Health and the community to find and appoint another such specialist at
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that a suitably qualified paediatric radio-oncologist has been
headhunted from St Jude Children's Research Hospital in New Orleans?
(2) Can the
minister also confirm that he has failed to successfully appoint that
specialist, despite his eagerness to practice in Western Australia?
(3) Can the
minister explain to the house how this failure continues to leave Western
Australia without the necessary specialists that our sick kids so desperately
need?
RADIO-ONCOLOGISTS
831. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health :
I refer to the chronic shortage of
paediatric radio-oncologists in Western Australia and efforts by the Department
of Health and the community to find and appoint another such specialist at
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that a suitably qualified paediatric radio-oncologist has been
headhunted from St Jude Children's Research Hospital in New Orleans?
(2) Can the
minister also confirm that he has failed to successfully appoint that
specialist, despite his eagerness to practice in Western Australia?
(3) Can the
minister explain to the house how this failure continues to leave Western
Australia without the necessary specialists that our sick kids so desperately
need?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
do not have an up-to-date answer to that question. We were discussing this
issue in the light of services at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children a
few months ago. I did get a briefing then but, unfortunately, I do not recall
all the details—certainly not enough to give an accurate answer.
However, I did have conversations with both PMH and Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital, which at the time were also searching for an oncologist. I am pretty
sure that they spoke to the doctor in America that our good friend, Mr Parish,
put us onto. I presume he is the one who put this issue to the member for
Kwinana. We did speak to that doctor. My understanding was that although he was
willing to come here, his qualifications did not match what we required, and
that the departments have been able to recruit alternative specialists who have
now filled the void. That is my understanding off the top of my head, but I
would need to seek more details from the department to ensure that is accurate.
I am more than happy to provide that to the member when I have that
information.
do not have an up-to-date answer to that question. We were discussing this
issue in the light of services at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children a
few months ago. I did get a briefing then but, unfortunately, I do not recall
all the details—certainly not enough to give an accurate answer.
However, I did have conversations with both PMH and Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital, which at the time were also searching for an oncologist. I am pretty
sure that they spoke to the doctor in America that our good friend, Mr Parish,
put us onto. I presume he is the one who put this issue to the member for
Kwinana. We did speak to that doctor. My understanding was that although he was
willing to come here, his qualifications did not match what we required, and
that the departments have been able to recruit alternative specialists who have
now filled the void. That is my understanding off the top of my head, but I
would need to seek more details from the department to ensure that is accurate.
I am more than happy to provide that to the member when I have that
information.
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