The question criticises the Minister for Health, suggesting systemic failures in identifying issues related to Visiting Medical Practitioners despite numerous reviews and a large workforce. The Minister defends the government's actions, highlighting ongoing improvements and cooperation with the Public Accounts Committee.

AnsweredQoN 779Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 February 2003
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(b) is the Minister suggesting that the ‘Review of the Country Health Service’, the ‘Bunbury Taskforce’, the ‘Report of the Review Committee on the Future of Osborne Park Hospital’, or the ‘Health Administrative Review Committee’ did not identify, draw attention to or highlight in any way the problems of Visiting Medical Practitioners; and (c) how does the Minister justify that with all the inquiries, taskforces, committees, summits and reviews and even with a staff of over 30,000 people and over 650 service delivery sites, no one knew of the problem of Visiting Medical Practitioners?
(c) how does the Minister justify that with all the inquiries, taskforces, committees, summits and reviews and even with a staff of over 30,000 people and over 650 service delivery sites, no one knew of the problem of Visiting Medical Practitioners?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
3 April 2003
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
37 days
(a) No, these problems were already identified and being addressed by the Office of the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
(b) The Reviews identified were established to recommend high level health service and infrastructure requirements for the people of Western Australia, particularly country people and those of the South West, as well as the Osborne Park community. They were not established to examine accounting practices.
(c) The PAC recently concluded that Visiting Medical Practitioners provide valued medical services to the people of Western Australia, while suggesting some areas for improvement in administrative systems. The current Government has been working to improve the management of the health system and has cooperated fully with the PAC review of these matters. The PAC acknowledged that the Department has commenced to improve its systems and processes.

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