❓ The question addresses the impending closure of Kalbarri's GP surgery and its impact on local health services, specifically asking about co-location with the WA Country Health Service and the medical services agreement. The Minister acknowledges the issue, emphasizes federal responsibility for primary healthcare, but outlines state advocacy and initiatives like the single-employer model to attract regional GPs.
AnsweredQoN 350Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GP services—Kalbarri
350. Mrs Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
impending closure of the Kalbarri doctors surgery, leaving the local government
to pick up the pieces, which will leave the Kalbarri community without a local
GP service.
(1) Is the government considering the
capacity to co-locate a GP service within the WA Country Health Service
Kalbarri Health Centre?
(2) How will this closure impact on the
medical services agreement contract to provide an on-call GP service to the
WACHS Kalbarri Health Centre?
350. Mrs Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
impending closure of the Kalbarri doctors surgery, leaving the local government
to pick up the pieces, which will leave the Kalbarri community without a local
GP service.
(1) Is the government considering the
capacity to co-locate a GP service within the WA Country Health Service
Kalbarri Health Centre?
(2) How will this closure impact on the
medical services agreement contract to provide an on-call GP service to the
WACHS Kalbarri Health Centre?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. First
of all, primary health care is an important issue in our regions. I understand very
much the importance of GPs in regional communities, but it is a primary responsibility
of the Commonwealth government to ensure that regional centres have access to
that primary health care. However, it is an area that we have an interest in
and are concerned about, of course. I have previously raised it with federal
counterparts, and our government is going to continue to advocate on behalf of
Western Australians in relation to access to care in regional areas.
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals!
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals!
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals, I am calling you
for the first time. Stop interjecting. Let the minister respond.
Ms Meredith Hammat: That is why we are partnering with
the federal government to do things like deliver the single-employer model
trial in our state. We want to encourage more doctors into general practice
across rural and regional WA. It is an innovative employment arrangement. It allows
20 rural generalist trainees the opportunity to train under a single employer—the
WA Country Health Service.
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals, I have asked you
to stop interjecting. Please stop interjecting.
Ms Meredith Hammat: It means that people can be
trained in both hospital and primary care settings. Of course, we are doing our
bit to attract and retain country doctors and make sure that we build our
future GP workforce because we understand how important they are. We are all
about providing stronger and more consistent health care for Western
Australians, particularly those living in regional WA.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: As I think the member knows, I
spend a lot of time visiting regional areas and speaking to regional councils to
understand the issues and the concern. I speak with lots of clinicians who are
working on putting in a career in country medicine. We are looking at a range
of ways that we can assist to provide those primary healthcare services in
regional areas, recognising that it is an issue that is primarily the
responsibility of the federal government. We will continue to advocate to the
federal government to ensure that we are working to find solutions that meet
the needs of regional areas, recognising again that it is primarily the
responsibility of the federal government to address primary health care.
of all, primary health care is an important issue in our regions. I understand very
much the importance of GPs in regional communities, but it is a primary responsibility
of the Commonwealth government to ensure that regional centres have access to
that primary health care. However, it is an area that we have an interest in
and are concerned about, of course. I have previously raised it with federal
counterparts, and our government is going to continue to advocate on behalf of
Western Australians in relation to access to care in regional areas.
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals!
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals!
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals, I am calling you
for the first time. Stop interjecting. Let the minister respond.
Ms Meredith Hammat: That is why we are partnering with
the federal government to do things like deliver the single-employer model
trial in our state. We want to encourage more doctors into general practice
across rural and regional WA. It is an innovative employment arrangement. It allows
20 rural generalist trainees the opportunity to train under a single employer—the
WA Country Health Service.
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Nationals, I have asked you
to stop interjecting. Please stop interjecting.
Ms Meredith Hammat: It means that people can be
trained in both hospital and primary care settings. Of course, we are doing our
bit to attract and retain country doctors and make sure that we build our
future GP workforce because we understand how important they are. We are all
about providing stronger and more consistent health care for Western
Australians, particularly those living in regional WA.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: As I think the member knows, I
spend a lot of time visiting regional areas and speaking to regional councils to
understand the issues and the concern. I speak with lots of clinicians who are
working on putting in a career in country medicine. We are looking at a range
of ways that we can assist to provide those primary healthcare services in
regional areas, recognising that it is an issue that is primarily the
responsibility of the federal government. We will continue to advocate to the
federal government to ensure that we are working to find solutions that meet
the needs of regional areas, recognising again that it is primarily the
responsibility of the federal government to address primary health care.
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