❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Treasurer about reports of non-renewed doctor contracts at Princess Margaret Hospital due to a public sector job freeze. The Treasurer denies refusing any doctor positions but seems unaware of the specific PMH situation.
AnsweredQoN 225Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR RECRUITMENT FREEZE —
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
225. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer :
I refer to the current public sector
job freeze and to reports that up to 21 doctors will not have their contracts
renewed at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children due to the freeze.
(1) Are these reports correct?
(2) Did the
Treasurer receive any applications from the Department of Health for exemption
for doctor positions since the freeze began?
(3) Has the Treasurer approved any
exemptions for doctor positions?
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
225. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer :
I refer to the current public sector
job freeze and to reports that up to 21 doctors will not have their contracts
renewed at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children due to the freeze.
(1) Are these reports correct?
(2) Did the
Treasurer receive any applications from the Department of Health for exemption
for doctor positions since the freeze began?
(3) Has the Treasurer approved any
exemptions for doctor positions?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Thanks
for the question. There is a freeze going on. In the health system there is a large
number of transactions and changeovers, particularly in rural areas, I might
add, where the contracts do not last very long. I have received hundreds.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Hundreds of exemption applications?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, across the board, including doctors and specialists.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : How many doctors?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I cannot remember how many doctors particularly in one
individual hospital.
Mr
M. McGowan : What about the 21 doctors at PMH?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The Leader of the Opposition did not ask the question, so just
keep out of it.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Have you approved them?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I will let the noise subside. I have approved all the doctors
that have come to me. I have not seen the ones for Princess Margaret Hospital
for Children. Was it Royal Perth Hospital or PMH?
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : PMH.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : To my knowledge, we have not refused a single doctor.
Mr
M. McGowan : They are contract positions.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : That is right. Good for you—that was the question.
We have no intention of knocking
back the recontracting of doctors whether they are on contracts, part-time—many
work fractional times—or whether they are permanent employees. I might
add we also approved—what are they called—all the junior
doctors coming from the university to take their position in hospitals.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, registrars.
for the question. There is a freeze going on. In the health system there is a large
number of transactions and changeovers, particularly in rural areas, I might
add, where the contracts do not last very long. I have received hundreds.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Hundreds of exemption applications?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, across the board, including doctors and specialists.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : How many doctors?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I cannot remember how many doctors particularly in one
individual hospital.
Mr
M. McGowan : What about the 21 doctors at PMH?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : The Leader of the Opposition did not ask the question, so just
keep out of it.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Have you approved them?
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I will let the noise subside. I have approved all the doctors
that have come to me. I have not seen the ones for Princess Margaret Hospital
for Children. Was it Royal Perth Hospital or PMH?
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : PMH.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : To my knowledge, we have not refused a single doctor.
Mr
M. McGowan : They are contract positions.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : That is right. Good for you—that was the question.
We have no intention of knocking
back the recontracting of doctors whether they are on contracts, part-time—many
work fractional times—or whether they are permanent employees. I might
add we also approved—what are they called—all the junior
doctors coming from the university to take their position in hospitals.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Yes, registrars.
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