❓ Question regarding the safety of transferring neonates to the new Women's and Babies' Hospital in Murdoch compared to the current transfer from King Edward Memorial Hospital to Perth Children's Hospital. The Minister's response deflects, citing previous consultations and accusing the opposition of ignoring the issue.
AnsweredQoN 501Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Women's and Babies' Hospital—Murdoch
501. Mr Jonathan Huston to the Minister for
Health:
I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister assure the house that the transport
risk to neonates in this 19-kilometre land transfer will be no less a risk than
the present seven-minute transfer from King Edward Memorial Hospital to Perth
Children's Hospital?
501. Mr Jonathan Huston to the Minister for
Health:
I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister assure the house that the transport
risk to neonates in this 19-kilometre land transfer will be no less a risk than
the present seven-minute transfer from King Edward Memorial Hospital to Perth
Children's Hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
This is
well-traversed ground, and I acknowledge the work of the former minister in
terms of this, because that is how old this issue is.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: That is how old this issue is. The
member was not here, but there has been extensive consultation, going back to
the previous term of government, with stakeholders and doctors—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Ms Meredith Hammat: —at King Eddy's and
Osborne Park Hospital. There was an extensive consultation and a report as
well. I understand that there were particular briefings arranged for the
opposition about all of these issues. The opposition ignored all of that.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Leader of the Opposition, I am
calling you for the first time.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The opposition ignored all of that
and made the last election a referendum on the location of the women's—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, I am calling you for
the second time.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The opposition ignored all of that
and chose to make the last election a referendum on the women's and babies'
hospital, claiming it would walk away from the commitments that had been given
and insist on building on a site that is heavily constrained. We are getting on
with the job of building the new women's and babies' hospital in Murdoch. We
are getting on with upgrading the maternity services at Osborne Park Hospital
as well.
As I said, we are
always considering the services that we provide, the health care that we
provide, to make sure it is available to people in Western Australia no matter
who they are or where they live.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. That concludes
question time.
well-traversed ground, and I acknowledge the work of the former minister in
terms of this, because that is how old this issue is.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: That is how old this issue is. The
member was not here, but there has been extensive consultation, going back to
the previous term of government, with stakeholders and doctors—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Ms Meredith Hammat: —at King Eddy's and
Osborne Park Hospital. There was an extensive consultation and a report as
well. I understand that there were particular briefings arranged for the
opposition about all of these issues. The opposition ignored all of that.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Leader of the Opposition, I am
calling you for the first time.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The opposition ignored all of that
and made the last election a referendum on the location of the women's—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, I am calling you for
the second time.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The opposition ignored all of that
and chose to make the last election a referendum on the women's and babies'
hospital, claiming it would walk away from the commitments that had been given
and insist on building on a site that is heavily constrained. We are getting on
with the job of building the new women's and babies' hospital in Murdoch. We
are getting on with upgrading the maternity services at Osborne Park Hospital
as well.
As I said, we are
always considering the services that we provide, the health care that we
provide, to make sure it is available to people in Western Australia no matter
who they are or where they live.
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. That concludes
question time.
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