❓ Mr Michel asks about the impact of new MRI services in Hedland and other health infrastructure projects in regional WA. The Minister for Health details investments in MRI services, renal chairs, midwifery group practices, and health service redevelopments, highlighting improved access to healthcare for regional communities.
AnsweredQoN 301Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH — MEDICAL IMAGING SERVICES —
REGIONS
301. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to delivering world class healthcare services to all in regional Western
Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's delivery of new MRI
services in Hedland will reduce the need for patients to travel to Geraldton or
Perth for important free diagnostic tests?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on other important health infrastructure projects
improving the quality of care for families living in the regions?
REGIONS
301. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to delivering world class healthcare services to all in regional Western
Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's delivery of new MRI
services in Hedland will reduce the need for patients to travel to Geraldton or
Perth for important free diagnostic tests?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on other important health infrastructure projects
improving the quality of care for families living in the regions?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Pilbara for the question and for his ongoing advocacy for
the expansion of health and mental health services in the Pilbara. We know that
the Pilbara and the community of the Pilbara makes an enormous contribution to
the standard of living and the quality of life that we all enjoy in Western Australia.
In this budget we have announced $15 million for an MRI at Hedland Health
Campus. In the last financial year alone, 500 Pilbara residents received
patient assisted travel scheme support and made 930 trips between them to
access MRI services. The closest MRI is in Geraldton or in Perth. There is well
and truly a need for it. This will significantly reduce the need for patients
to travel for imaging services and provide
better access closer to home. Importantly, it will also help attract staff to
the Hedland Health Campus and it will expand the range of clinical
services it is able to provide. This is delivering on one of the government's
and the local member's election commitments. As part of that
announcement, we also announced that Karratha Health Campus would be getting
four renal chairs, which will provide more than 2 000 renal dialysis sessions a
year and will allow patients to stay closer to home, or if not on country,
closer to country and family.
In an effort to manage the very
challenged area around the country of regional maternity services, we are
looking at doing things differently from providing those services. We launched
the midwifery group practice at Karratha. The staff are very excited. It is up
and running. We know that midwives want to work in this model of care. They want
to work in a group practice model that provides continuity of care for women's maternity and birthing care.
Karratha has some of the best birthing suites in the state, I have to say. This trial will see women cared for by the same midwife throughout their
pregnancy and will support 140 local women. That is on top of all those MGPs
that we have already launched under this government that I outlined in the
previous question. This is on top of the $61.4 million Newman Health Service redevelopment. It is a beautiful redevelopment,
supported by BHP, delivering a new emergency department, inpatient beds,
emergency and treatment bays, a dedicated medical centre, consultation spaces and dental services. And, of course we increased PATS by 66 per cent and
expanded the eligibility for patient escorts for maternity and cancer patients.
We know that there is always more to
do, and access to health care for regional communities is one of those critical issues. We are absolutely committed
to expanding that. These announcements and this funding , on top of the
existing commitment, will make it easier for the member's local
constituents and residents in the Pilbara to access high-quality health services
closer to home.
Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
thank the member for Pilbara for the question and for his ongoing advocacy for
the expansion of health and mental health services in the Pilbara. We know that
the Pilbara and the community of the Pilbara makes an enormous contribution to
the standard of living and the quality of life that we all enjoy in Western Australia.
In this budget we have announced $15 million for an MRI at Hedland Health
Campus. In the last financial year alone, 500 Pilbara residents received
patient assisted travel scheme support and made 930 trips between them to
access MRI services. The closest MRI is in Geraldton or in Perth. There is well
and truly a need for it. This will significantly reduce the need for patients
to travel for imaging services and provide
better access closer to home. Importantly, it will also help attract staff to
the Hedland Health Campus and it will expand the range of clinical
services it is able to provide. This is delivering on one of the government's
and the local member's election commitments. As part of that
announcement, we also announced that Karratha Health Campus would be getting
four renal chairs, which will provide more than 2 000 renal dialysis sessions a
year and will allow patients to stay closer to home, or if not on country,
closer to country and family.
In an effort to manage the very
challenged area around the country of regional maternity services, we are
looking at doing things differently from providing those services. We launched
the midwifery group practice at Karratha. The staff are very excited. It is up
and running. We know that midwives want to work in this model of care. They want
to work in a group practice model that provides continuity of care for women's maternity and birthing care.
Karratha has some of the best birthing suites in the state, I have to say. This trial will see women cared for by the same midwife throughout their
pregnancy and will support 140 local women. That is on top of all those MGPs
that we have already launched under this government that I outlined in the
previous question. This is on top of the $61.4 million Newman Health Service redevelopment. It is a beautiful redevelopment,
supported by BHP, delivering a new emergency department, inpatient beds,
emergency and treatment bays, a dedicated medical centre, consultation spaces and dental services. And, of course we increased PATS by 66 per cent and
expanded the eligibility for patient escorts for maternity and cancer patients.
We know that there is always more to
do, and access to health care for regional communities is one of those critical issues. We are absolutely committed
to expanding that. These announcements and this funding , on top of the
existing commitment, will make it easier for the member's local
constituents and residents in the Pilbara to access high-quality health services
closer to home.
Sitting suspended from 1.00 to 2.00 pm
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