❓ Mr. Barron-Sullivan questions the Minister for Health about the alleged downgrading of the Bunbury Regional Hospital's ICU and its impact on South West residents. The Minister denies a downgrade, stating the memo formalised existing procedures and aims to enhance ICU services through training and a new director.
AnsweredQoN 1168Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a leaked Department of Health memorandum confirming that the intensive care unit at the State’s largest regional hospital, in Bunbury, was downgraded last week. I specifically refer to the advice in that memorandum that there are serious problems at the hospital regarding the availability of skilled intensive care unit staff and that, as a result, the level of care able to be provided is much more at the high dependency end of the critical care spectrum than a full intensive care service. (1) As the minister responsible, will the Minister for Health explain how this was allowed to happen? (2) In view of the growing list of problems at the hospital, which are forcing more and more south west residents to travel to Perth for treatment, will the minister now intervene personally to turn the situation around? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
(1) As the minister responsible, will the Minister for Health explain how this was allowed to happen? (2) In view of the growing list of problems at the hospital, which are forcing more and more south west residents to travel to Perth for treatment, will the minister now intervene personally to turn the situation around? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
(2) In view of the growing list of problems at the hospital, which are forcing more and more south west residents to travel to Perth for treatment, will the minister now intervene personally to turn the situation around? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
(1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
(1) As the minister responsible, will the Minister for Health explain how this was allowed to happen? (2) In view of the growing list of problems at the hospital, which are forcing more and more south west residents to travel to Perth for treatment, will the minister now intervene personally to turn the situation around? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
(2) In view of the growing list of problems at the hospital, which are forcing more and more south west residents to travel to Perth for treatment, will the minister now intervene personally to turn the situation around? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
(1)-(2) It would have been of some assistance if some notice of the question had been given, but I will do my best anyway. No changes have been made to the operations of the Bunbury Regional Hospital intensive care unit in recent times. The internal memo which has been referred to by the member for Mitchell was released in conjunction with the agreement of the Bunbury Regional Hospital clinical staff and the newly-appointed director of the ICU, Dr Hinton, to reinforce appropriate clinical procedures at the hospital. The very appointment of a new head of the intensive care unit at the Bunbury Regional Hospital is a clear signal to everyone that we want to enhance the intensive care procedures at the hospital, but we want to do so in a way that is safe, where people are properly trained and we have the staff who can do the job. That is the way we are proceeding and that was the purpose of the memo that has been issued by the hospital in conjunction with the clinical staff. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: Have you read the memo? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes, I have. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: And you are still saying this? Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am telling the member that I have read it and I am telling him the background to it. On 7 October, Bunbury Regional Hospital distributed this memo to medical and nursing staff confirming the formalised arrangements for operation of the facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit at Bunbury Regional Hospital. This memo was consistent with a decision reached with the medical advisory committee at Bunbury Regional Hospital in relation to operational procedures for the intensive care unit. These arrangements were endorsed by the medical advisory committee at its meeting on 26 September 2003. The memorandum confirmed and formalised operating arrangements for the unit which had been in operation for some time. The procedures are designed to ensure minimisation of risk in the operation of the unit by establishing appropriate admission and medical attendance criteria and requirements for management of ventilated patients in particular. Although the hospital has a physical facility, which is referred to as the intensive care unit, Bunbury Regional Hospital has never established a full intensive care unit service. In that regard, the South West Health Service has appointed a director of intensive care services to develop plans for the full implementation of an intensive care unit service at Bunbury. This will include planned educational activities for nursing and other staff in relation to intensive care unit skills. We hope that upgrading the skills of the staff to enable them to take on these functions will be completed by the end of November. For the first time the Bunbury Regional Hospital will have a fully operational intensive care unit. Contrary to what the member for Mitchell is suggesting, by downgrading the facility in his own town, we are in fact extending a full intensive care service to the people of Bunbury and the south west so that we can cater properly for those people who need a full-scale intensive care service. That is happening, following the appointment three months ago of Dr Hinton and the current training of the staff. I think it would be highly negligent for anyone to suggest, as the member for Mitchell just has, that we should continue unsafe practices, or we should adopt unsafe practices in what is known in Bunbury as the intensive care unit. Over the next month and a half we will be making sure that appropriate training is in place, with appropriate staffing to exercise all of these procedures to make sure that the quality of health care for the people of Bunbury and the south west is enhanced.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.