❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the availability of scoliosis surgeons, waiting lists, and funding considerations within the state's public health system. The response indicates shortages and ongoing consideration of increased capacity.
AnsweredQoN 1616Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister advise the number of surgeons currently operating in Western Australia who are capable of performing surgery on Scoliosis sufferers?
(2) Can the Minister advise if the State is currently short of these surgeons and if so, by how many?
(3) Has the Minister previously received requests from anybody to increase the number of surgeons, if so by whom, when, why and what was your response?
(4) How many of these operations are performed each month?
(5) How many Scoliosis sufferers are there in Western Australia?
(6) How many are currently on the waiting list for surgery and what is the last date of that waiting list?
(7) How much does it cost to employ one full-time surgeon capable of doing these operations?
(8) Will the Government consider increasing funding for surgeons capable of doing Scoliosis surgery and if not, why not?
(2) Can the Minister advise if the State is currently short of these surgeons and if so, by how many?
(3) Has the Minister previously received requests from anybody to increase the number of surgeons, if so by whom, when, why and what was your response?
(4) How many of these operations are performed each month?
(5) How many Scoliosis sufferers are there in Western Australia?
(6) How many are currently on the waiting list for surgery and what is the last date of that waiting list?
(7) How much does it cost to employ one full-time surgeon capable of doing these operations?
(8) Will the Government consider increasing funding for surgeons capable of doing Scoliosis surgery and if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 November 2006
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
27 days
2. Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) currently has 3.5 sessions for spinal surgery vacant (a session equals 3.5 hours). There are no spinal surgeons available within WA to fill this vacancy and there are currently no spinal surgeons in training in WA. The two surgeons currently performing scoliosis surgery at RPH also provide a limited service at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), both also undertake other spinal surgery and also work in private practice. 3. RPH has received correspondence dated 27 September 2006 from Dr Peter Woodland requesting a fulltime appointment between RPH and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). A meeting between the spinal surgeons and the Divisional Director Rehabilitation and Orthopaedics Division, took place on 31 October 2006, and the matter is being progressed. 4. RPH has a scoliosis surgery list every Tuesday - one case is booked for an all day list requiring both surgeons to be present as well as a neurologist to undertake spinal monitoring. Therefore, four cases are undertaken per month, except in periods of leave for either surgeon. The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
3. RPH has received correspondence dated 27 September 2006 from Dr Peter Woodland requesting a fulltime appointment between RPH and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). A meeting between the spinal surgeons and the Divisional Director Rehabilitation and Orthopaedics Division, took place on 31 October 2006, and the matter is being progressed. 4. RPH has a scoliosis surgery list every Tuesday - one case is booked for an all day list requiring both surgeons to be present as well as a neurologist to undertake spinal monitoring. Therefore, four cases are undertaken per month, except in periods of leave for either surgeon. The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
4. RPH has a scoliosis surgery list every Tuesday - one case is booked for an all day list requiring both surgeons to be present as well as a neurologist to undertake spinal monitoring. Therefore, four cases are undertaken per month, except in periods of leave for either surgeon. The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
3. RPH has received correspondence dated 27 September 2006 from Dr Peter Woodland requesting a fulltime appointment between RPH and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). A meeting between the spinal surgeons and the Divisional Director Rehabilitation and Orthopaedics Division, took place on 31 October 2006, and the matter is being progressed. 4. RPH has a scoliosis surgery list every Tuesday - one case is booked for an all day list requiring both surgeons to be present as well as a neurologist to undertake spinal monitoring. Therefore, four cases are undertaken per month, except in periods of leave for either surgeon. The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
4. RPH has a scoliosis surgery list every Tuesday - one case is booked for an all day list requiring both surgeons to be present as well as a neurologist to undertake spinal monitoring. Therefore, four cases are undertaken per month, except in periods of leave for either surgeon. The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
The following figures for PMH are for a full calendar year, not per month: 2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
2005 - 6 cases 2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
2004 - 4 cases 2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
2003 - 5 cases 5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
5. The number is unknown. Scoliosis is a common condition but only a small number of people progress to surgery. 6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
6. There are currently 52 patients on the waiting list for scoliosis surgery at RPH. Current dates booked are to February 2008. Seven cases are wait-listed at PMH. 7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
7. The cost of an additional surgeon including all additional procedural costs is $936,866. 8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
8. Additional capacity in terms of an additional surgeon or additional lists for the existing surgeons is under consideration.
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