❓ Hon George Cash questions the Minister for Health regarding medical services at Wyndham District Hospital, specifically specialist visits and patient transport costs. The Minister assures that two doctor positions will remain, specialist visits occur, and transport to Kununurra is more practical due to cost and surgical facilities.
AnsweredQoN 1419Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the minister confirm that it is the intention of the Department of Health to continue to base two doctors at Wyndham District Hospital? (2) Why is Wyndham the only major town in the Kimberley not to receive visits from contracted specialist medical personnel on their periodic clinic trips to the Kimberley? (3) Is it the policy of the Government to enable orthopaedic, obstetric, paediatric and other medical specialists to visit patients in Wyndham? (4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(2) Why is Wyndham the only major town in the Kimberley not to receive visits from contracted specialist medical personnel on their periodic clinic trips to the Kimberley? (3) Is it the policy of the Government to enable orthopaedic, obstetric, paediatric and other medical specialists to visit patients in Wyndham? (4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(3) Is it the policy of the Government to enable orthopaedic, obstetric, paediatric and other medical specialists to visit patients in Wyndham? (4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(2) Why is Wyndham the only major town in the Kimberley not to receive visits from contracted specialist medical personnel on their periodic clinic trips to the Kimberley? (3) Is it the policy of the Government to enable orthopaedic, obstetric, paediatric and other medical specialists to visit patients in Wyndham? (4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(3) Is it the policy of the Government to enable orthopaedic, obstetric, paediatric and other medical specialists to visit patients in Wyndham? (4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(4) Would it be more economical for patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu to be treated in Wyndham by visiting medical specialists, rather than requiring them to be transported at considerable additional cost to Kununurra? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
(1)-(4) There are two medical positions based at Wyndham District Hospital and there is no intention that this should change. However, factors such as recruitment and retention of staff can impact on this situation. Should this occur, the region will identify alternative modes of delivery in order to sustain appropriate services. Wyndham receives visits from contracted visiting specialists. Recent visits included those by an ear, nose and throat specialist, a regional gynaecologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopaedic specialist, a regional paediatrician and a visiting Perth paediatrician. Visiting and regionally based specialists will continue to attend clinics at Wyndham. The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
The cost differential associated in chartering patients from Oombulgurri and Kalumburu is minimal and most charters originate in Kununurra. For this reason, patients from these remote communities are often charted to Kununurra for clinics. Kununurra also has surgical facilities should complications be identified during the clinic.
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