❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding conflicting statements about staffing levels at Perth Children's Hospital following an incident on April 3rd. The Minister defends his position, citing a root-cause analysis and acknowledging broader staffing pressures across the health system.
AnsweredQoN 105Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR HEALTH — HEALTH SECTOR
105. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
have a supplementary question. Why did the minister state that staffing was not
an issue on the night of 3 April, but at the same time make such a significant
commitment of an additional 16 staff at Perth Children's Hospital; was
the minister telling the truth then
or is he admitting now that there was a significant staffing issue at Perth
Children's Hospital?
105. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
have a supplementary question. Why did the minister state that staffing was not
an issue on the night of 3 April, but at the same time make such a significant
commitment of an additional 16 staff at Perth Children's Hospital; was
the minister telling the truth then
or is he admitting now that there was a significant staffing issue at Perth
Children's Hospital?
AnswerView source ↗
It is always good to get new
material. Unfortunately, the member for Vasse has not been able to access any.
This is the same question that she asked me last time we were in this place.
Let me just say for the record once again: the
root-cause analysis made the explicit observation that the number of staff
available for this particular patient was not an issue, and that is a fact of life. The other fact of life is that
all our hospitals are suffering from staffing overload , fatigue and
pressures at the moment. I have been the first to acknowledge that and that is
why —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thanks. Minister
for Health.
Mr
R.H. COOK : Madam Speaker, it is
always good to provide the appropriate level of respect to such an important issue. I have made my position quite clear, both in this place and in the
media, that we observe the observations made by the root-cause analysis report,
but, at the same time, acknowledge that there are staffing issues in all our
hospitals. Is that clear enough for the member for Cottesloe?
Several members interjected.
Mr
R.H. COOK : We are recruiting an
extra 600 nurses over the next two years. We are recruiting 1 000 nurses as
part of our intake this year and 1 000
nurses as part of our intake next year. We acknowledge, as does everyone, that
our health workforce is challenged at
the moment and we are responding, which is something that was sadly lacking
when the last government was confronted with these issues. We step up and we
find solutions. We work with people on the front line to make sure that we find
solutions. I think that is what the people of Western Australia and the doctors
and nurses who were there today
expect from us—to find solutions. We are implementing those solutions
and we will work with the leadership of each of the health unions to make sure
that we improve upon the other aspects that impact on their lives.
material. Unfortunately, the member for Vasse has not been able to access any.
This is the same question that she asked me last time we were in this place.
Let me just say for the record once again: the
root-cause analysis made the explicit observation that the number of staff
available for this particular patient was not an issue, and that is a fact of life. The other fact of life is that
all our hospitals are suffering from staffing overload , fatigue and
pressures at the moment. I have been the first to acknowledge that and that is
why —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thanks. Minister
for Health.
Mr
R.H. COOK : Madam Speaker, it is
always good to provide the appropriate level of respect to such an important issue. I have made my position quite clear, both in this place and in the
media, that we observe the observations made by the root-cause analysis report,
but, at the same time, acknowledge that there are staffing issues in all our
hospitals. Is that clear enough for the member for Cottesloe?
Several members interjected.
Mr
R.H. COOK : We are recruiting an
extra 600 nurses over the next two years. We are recruiting 1 000 nurses as
part of our intake this year and 1 000
nurses as part of our intake next year. We acknowledge, as does everyone, that
our health workforce is challenged at
the moment and we are responding, which is something that was sadly lacking
when the last government was confronted with these issues. We step up and we
find solutions. We work with people on the front line to make sure that we find
solutions. I think that is what the people of Western Australia and the doctors
and nurses who were there today
expect from us—to find solutions. We are implementing those solutions
and we will work with the leadership of each of the health unions to make sure
that we improve upon the other aspects that impact on their lives.
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