❓ Question regarding federal Labor's commitment to Bentley Hospital and how it complements the McGowan government's support, addressing previous neglect by the Liberal-National government. The Minister welcomes the funding, highlighting improvements to various services and contrasting it with the previous government's actions.
AnsweredQoN 919Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BENTLEY HOSPITAL
919. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Minister for Health:
I would like to acknowledge the remarkable year 6 leadership
team from Notre Dame Catholic Primary School in my electorate, their wonderful
teacher and the school principal, who are here today in the Speaker's
gallery.
I refer to today's announcement by the federal Labor
opposition that it will commit almost $11 million to Bentley Hospital should it
win the next election. Can the minister outline to the house how this funding
would complement the support the McGowan Labor government has already provided
to the hospital, which was neglected by the previous Liberal–National
government for eight and a half years?
919. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Minister for Health:
I would like to acknowledge the remarkable year 6 leadership
team from Notre Dame Catholic Primary School in my electorate, their wonderful
teacher and the school principal, who are here today in the Speaker's
gallery.
I refer to today's announcement by the federal Labor
opposition that it will commit almost $11 million to Bentley Hospital should it
win the next election. Can the minister outline to the house how this funding
would complement the support the McGowan Labor government has already provided
to the hospital, which was neglected by the previous Liberal–National
government for eight and a half years?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question, but before I answer, on
behalf of all members assembled, I acknowledge the passing of Dr Graham Dale,
an anaesthetist from the south west and avid cyclist, who unfortunately lost
his life very recently. On behalf of all members, and particularly the member
for Bunbury, I pass on our condolences to his family and friends for their
tragic loss.
This is an important
announcement, and it is a vote of confidence by that most frequent flyer to Western
Australia, Bill Shorten, a man who understands Western Australia and is committed
to putting patients first, and working with the McGowan government to make sure
that our health system is there for all Western Australians. In particular, we
welcome the investment of $10.9 million to renovate and refurbish the Bentley
Health Service. It is a very welcome commitment, and it is good to see the
members for Victoria Park and Cannington looking like the cats that have got
the cream, and acknowledge their strong advocacy on behalf of their
constituents. It is also a testament to the campaigning that Hannah Beazley,
the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Swan, is doing.
This contrasts sharply with the
treatment by the previous government of Western Australia, which held the sword
of Damocles over the maternity services at Bentley Hospital for years,
threatening to close down those services. If it were not for the strong
protests from the community and the members for Cannington and Victoria Park,
the previous government would have been successful in closing down those
maternity services, which cater in particular for people from our multicultural
community.
This funding commitment builds upon
the Bentley Mental Health Service and the East Metropolitan Youth Unit that we
opened earlier this month, providing great health care for young people
suffering mental health issues in the community. This funding will see upgrades
to maternity services to reduce wait times, improved pain management services
and improved patient privacy. It will fund major improvements to mental health
services; improve security and amenity for patients, including outpatients;
upgrade facilities for rehabilitation patients; provide better patient–visitor
access through renovation of the entrance and waiting areas; and provide better
facilities for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, including upgrades to
the staff dining room.
It is clear that Bill Shorten and
his Labor team are listening to the people of Western Australia. It is clear
that they are joining the McGowan government in putting patients first, and ensuring
that people everywhere get the health care they need, to make sure that we
continue to provide a world-class health system. I am very proud that we have
been successful in securing this investment, and that the Shorten Labor team is
working hard with the McGowan government to ensure that, if Labor is elected at
the federal election next year, all Western Australians will benefit from
ongoing investment in this state.
behalf of all members assembled, I acknowledge the passing of Dr Graham Dale,
an anaesthetist from the south west and avid cyclist, who unfortunately lost
his life very recently. On behalf of all members, and particularly the member
for Bunbury, I pass on our condolences to his family and friends for their
tragic loss.
This is an important
announcement, and it is a vote of confidence by that most frequent flyer to Western
Australia, Bill Shorten, a man who understands Western Australia and is committed
to putting patients first, and working with the McGowan government to make sure
that our health system is there for all Western Australians. In particular, we
welcome the investment of $10.9 million to renovate and refurbish the Bentley
Health Service. It is a very welcome commitment, and it is good to see the
members for Victoria Park and Cannington looking like the cats that have got
the cream, and acknowledge their strong advocacy on behalf of their
constituents. It is also a testament to the campaigning that Hannah Beazley,
the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Swan, is doing.
This contrasts sharply with the
treatment by the previous government of Western Australia, which held the sword
of Damocles over the maternity services at Bentley Hospital for years,
threatening to close down those services. If it were not for the strong
protests from the community and the members for Cannington and Victoria Park,
the previous government would have been successful in closing down those
maternity services, which cater in particular for people from our multicultural
community.
This funding commitment builds upon
the Bentley Mental Health Service and the East Metropolitan Youth Unit that we
opened earlier this month, providing great health care for young people
suffering mental health issues in the community. This funding will see upgrades
to maternity services to reduce wait times, improved pain management services
and improved patient privacy. It will fund major improvements to mental health
services; improve security and amenity for patients, including outpatients;
upgrade facilities for rehabilitation patients; provide better patient–visitor
access through renovation of the entrance and waiting areas; and provide better
facilities for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, including upgrades to
the staff dining room.
It is clear that Bill Shorten and
his Labor team are listening to the people of Western Australia. It is clear
that they are joining the McGowan government in putting patients first, and ensuring
that people everywhere get the health care they need, to make sure that we
continue to provide a world-class health system. I am very proud that we have
been successful in securing this investment, and that the Shorten Labor team is
working hard with the McGowan government to ensure that, if Labor is elected at
the federal election next year, all Western Australians will benefit from
ongoing investment in this state.
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