❓ Mr. Trenorden questions the Minister for Health about the lack of an indemnity agreement with doctors at Northampton District Hospital, suggesting a hidden agenda to close the hospital. The Minister denies this, stating the department is working to reach an agreement and maintain services.
AnsweredQoN 1115Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to comments by the Department of Health’s director of country health services, Christine O’Farrell, on ABC radio this morning that the Department of Health has for some time been keeping a watching brief on the low use of services at the Northampton District Hospital and evaluating Geraldton Regional Hospital as an alternative service provider. Why does the minister not admit that the only reason he has not reached an indemnity insurance agreement with the doctors at Northampton District Hospital is so that it can be used as a means of achieving his agenda of closing the hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
The last I heard about the situation at Northampton District Hospital was that the two doctors had refused to sign the indemnity agreement that an overwhelming number of doctors throughout the State have signed. A meeting was held between the Department of Health and the lead doctor either last week or the week before - one day melds into another these days. I am not in a position to give the member a more recent report because I did not anticipate a question on this issue today; however, the last report I received was that there was a significant measure of optimism on the part of the Department of Health - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: The last I heard about the situation at Northampton District Hospital was that the two doctors had refused to sign the indemnity agreement that an overwhelming number of doctors throughout the State have signed. A meeting was held between the Department of Health and the lead doctor either last week or the week before - one day melds into another these days. I am not in a position to give the member a more recent report because I did not anticipate a question on this issue today; however, the last report I received was that there was a significant measure of optimism on the part of the Department of Health - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
The last I heard about the situation at Northampton District Hospital was that the two doctors had refused to sign the indemnity agreement that an overwhelming number of doctors throughout the State have signed. A meeting was held between the Department of Health and the lead doctor either last week or the week before - one day melds into another these days. I am not in a position to give the member a more recent report because I did not anticipate a question on this issue today; however, the last report I received was that there was a significant measure of optimism on the part of the Department of Health - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: The last I heard about the situation at Northampton District Hospital was that the two doctors had refused to sign the indemnity agreement that an overwhelming number of doctors throughout the State have signed. A meeting was held between the Department of Health and the lead doctor either last week or the week before - one day melds into another these days. I am not in a position to give the member a more recent report because I did not anticipate a question on this issue today; however, the last report I received was that there was a significant measure of optimism on the part of the Department of Health - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
The last I heard about the situation at Northampton District Hospital was that the two doctors had refused to sign the indemnity agreement that an overwhelming number of doctors throughout the State have signed. A meeting was held between the Department of Health and the lead doctor either last week or the week before - one day melds into another these days. I am not in a position to give the member a more recent report because I did not anticipate a question on this issue today; however, the last report I received was that there was a significant measure of optimism on the part of the Department of Health - Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: Christine O’Farrell said on radio this morning that there was no current agreement. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The last I heard was that there was significant optimism on the part of the Department of Health that the doctors, who must have indemnity insurance to work in the public hospital system - Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: You must realise that these are the only two doctors in the State the department has not reached agreement with. It is somewhat suspicious. Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: No, it is not. Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: You tell me why. Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: They are not the only two. I provide ballpark, rather than precise, figures - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
The SPEAKER: Member! Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Let me answer the member’s first question. I do not want to cut him off, although you, Mr Speaker, might. There are about 1 500 visiting medical officers in the State. Some did not, for their own reasons, want to sign the agreement. However, that figure includes doctors practising at two hospitals, so the actual number of doctors is less than 1 500. Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: That has not resulted in services being taken away from the hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: That is right. The advice I have received from the Department of Health is that it is keen to get the two doctors in Northampton to sign the standard agreement that everyone else has signed. We want them to sign so that we can maintain the services there. If the two doctors in the town are not prepared to sign the agreement, they will not have indemnity insurance and therefore will not have the ability to practise medicine at Northampton District Hospital. I am sorry that I do not have more up-to-date information, but the last I heard was that the department was optimistic the doctors would sign. The situation may have changed since then. Until this issue is resolved, we need to consider servicing Northampton on a locum basis. I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
I have also been told that in the two months the doctors have refused to sign the indemnity agreement, only one patient has been transferred from Northampton to Geraldton; that is, only one person has had a condition serious enough to prevent him being kept at the hospital without a doctor. The impact is minimal. Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not diminishing the situation; I simply point out that only one person has had to be transferred from Northampton District Hospital because no doctors are servicing that hospital, which indicates that the impact has been minimal. We are keen to reach agreement with those doctors. There is not a conspiracy, if that is what the member suggests, or another agenda being played out at the Northampton hospital. I will seek advice on the current state of negotiations with those doctors, and whether the department retains the optimism that was expressed in the last advice I received.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.