❓ Mr. Waddell questions the lack of maternity services at Kalamunda Hospital despite prior commitments. Dr. Hames blames the previous government's closure and GP reluctance to return, despite upgrades and midwifery options.
AnsweredQoN 724Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KALAMUNDA HOSPITAL CAMPUS — MATERNITY SERVICES
I refer to the maternity services at Kalamunda Hospital, and to the minister’s 2008 election commitment, and also the local member’s August 2010 commitment, of a new maternity ward, and, finally, to answers given in the other place in September this year. (1) Why have no births taken place at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (2) Why have no women been booked into or scheduled to give birth at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES
I refer to the maternity services at Kalamunda Hospital, and to the minister’s 2008 election commitment, and also the local member’s August 2010 commitment, of a new maternity ward, and, finally, to answers given in the other place in September this year. (1) Why have no births taken place at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (2) Why have no women been booked into or scheduled to give birth at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(1) Why have no births taken place at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (2) Why have no women been booked into or scheduled to give birth at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(2) Why have no women been booked into or scheduled to give birth at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(1) Why have no births taken place at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (2) Why have no women been booked into or scheduled to give birth at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(2) Why have no women been booked into or scheduled to give birth at Kalamunda Hospital in 2011? (3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(3) Is the construction of the maternity ward complete, as the local member claimed it would be by December last year? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I would like to remind the member that the maternity unit was closed down by the previous government and its health minister — Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : The previous government’s health minister shut it down for all those women in Kalamunda, who were being — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : — largely managed by general practitioners for the region, delivering safely and reliably in that hospital; and the Minister for Health in the previous government, against our strong opposition, shut it down. Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Mr A.J. Waddell : You’ve had three years, and you’ve done nothing! The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
The SPEAKER : Members! Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We did commit in opposition to restoring that service. But what happened in the meantime, of course, is where did those doctors who were doing the deliveries go? They went to the Swan District Hospital. Their only choice to deliver babies in that area was to go to Swan District Hospital. So, we put that money into Kalamunda Hospital and we improved the facilities there, and we went back to the GPs and said, “Right, let’s work on exactly what we have there for you to be able to come back”. Some of the doctors had given up, as we said would happen; and some who were delivering there said, “Oh, I don’t want to keep going any more; this is too hard”, so they stopped delivering babies any more. The doctors who kept going have established themselves at Swan District Hospital. I insisted, with the managers for that region, that Kalamunda Hospital be made available for GPs and midwives because, in conjunction with members opposite, we strongly support midwives having access to places where they can deliver babies. In fact, I am working with Minister Nicola Roxon regarding that whole issue. We wanted to have Kalamunda hospital available for GPs and midwives. But the GPs have either retired or have said that they have now established their procedures at Swan District Hospital Campus, and they do not want to go back to Kalamunda hospital, so I got our health people to personally talk to those doctors and ask, “Please come back; we want you to come to this hospital and restart deliveries in that area.” But they did not want to, so there is now the opportunity for a midwifery-led service at that hospital. But I have to say that not a lot of people want to take it up, and that is not our fault. Government cannot force people to do that. Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Several members interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
Dr K.D. HAMES : No; it is not our fault. We strongly supported the service that was there before, and we would be more than happy for those doctors to come back, but members opposite drove them out of that hospital, and now they have gone. We will maintain the capacity. We have spent money upgrading the services that are available there, but if a GP–obstetrician wants to deliver there they can, but that is up to them. Alternatively, midwives can deliver there if they want to; that is up to them. It is also up to the patients to choose where they want to go. Sadly, they have been driven away from what was a perfectly good service.
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