❓ Mr. McGowan questions the Minister for Health regarding the capacity of the new children's hospital, particularly concerning oncology beds, and accuses the Minister of misleading the house. The Minister's response is initially evasive, leading to interjections and a request from the Speaker for order.
AnsweredQoN 227Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — CAPACITY
227. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the construction of the new children's
hospital that Western Australians hope will be able to cope with the demands of
the state's rapidly increasing population.
(1) Did the minister
not mislead the house yesterday by saying there would be four extra beds for
oncology when, according to his written response in the other house yesterday,
there will be only one extra bed?
(2) With the
population growing at 3.6 per cent per annum, does the minister agree that the
projections his government has used as a basis for the number of beds for the
hospital are out of date and inaccurate?
227. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the construction of the new children's
hospital that Western Australians hope will be able to cope with the demands of
the state's rapidly increasing population.
(1) Did the minister
not mislead the house yesterday by saying there would be four extra beds for
oncology when, according to his written response in the other house yesterday,
there will be only one extra bed?
(2) With the
population growing at 3.6 per cent per annum, does the minister agree that the
projections his government has used as a basis for the number of beds for the
hospital are out of date and inaccurate?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I do not have a copy of that to see what I
did yesterday.
Several members interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
do not.
Mr M. McGowan : It
has KH on it. Who is KH?
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
know very well what I said yesterday and I will say it again today. The current
hospital has 20 beds —
Ms R. Saffioti :
That's not what you said yesterday.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Get Hansard out. Why not get Hansard out and read it?
The
SPEAKER : Order, member for West Swan! Minister, can you just answer
the question. No more interjections; thank you.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
clearly recall saying yesterday that there were 20 beds and eight day chairs,
plus four swing beds at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, and that up to
two of those beds are used at any one time on most days; sometimes up to four.
The new children's hospital will have 24 beds and eight chairs, plus up
to eight swing beds. I am looking at using the eight swing beds as dedicated
oncology beds. I was later asked how that would affect other uses, such as for
surgeons. I said that we would go through those numbers and work it out to make
sure we have enough beds, and that answer remains.
did yesterday.
Several members interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
do not.
Mr M. McGowan : It
has KH on it. Who is KH?
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
know very well what I said yesterday and I will say it again today. The current
hospital has 20 beds —
Ms R. Saffioti :
That's not what you said yesterday.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Get Hansard out. Why not get Hansard out and read it?
The
SPEAKER : Order, member for West Swan! Minister, can you just answer
the question. No more interjections; thank you.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I
clearly recall saying yesterday that there were 20 beds and eight day chairs,
plus four swing beds at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, and that up to
two of those beds are used at any one time on most days; sometimes up to four.
The new children's hospital will have 24 beds and eight chairs, plus up
to eight swing beds. I am looking at using the eight swing beds as dedicated
oncology beds. I was later asked how that would affect other uses, such as for
surgeons. I said that we would go through those numbers and work it out to make
sure we have enough beds, and that answer remains.
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