❓ Mr Board questions the Minister for Health about extensions granted for WorkSafe improvement notices related to safety at the Swan mental health facility following an assault on a nurse. The Minister denies any non-compliance and details safety improvements made.
AnsweredQoN 225Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the WorkSafe improvement notices, which I spoke about yesterday in the House and to which the minister has referred today in question time. Indeed, he tabled the WorkSafe improvement notices. I refer to the three notices that I spoke about yesterday, particularly with regard to the Bill that was brought before the House. One was about the duress alarms being monitored. Contrary to what the minister has said in the House today, there has been an extension from 2 May to 30 June. Contrary to what the minister has said in the House today, the assessment to which I referred yesterday of the consultation rooms for safe systems, including layout and design and to keep the staff safe, has been extended from 14 May to 27 August. In addition, contrary to what the minister has said in the House today, there has been an extension from 30 April to 11 June of the barriers in the reception area that are adequately spaced, to which I referred in the House yesterday. The documents the minister has tabled today confirm that these things were not done and that extensions of time have been granted - I am not sure when. Does the minister think it is appropriate that those extensions have been given when the work should have been performed by now to keep the staff adequately protected? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
Yesterday the member for Murdoch asked - Why were the work safety orders issued by WorkSafe WA not complied with by the due date? No WorkSafe order has not been complied with by the due date. The member was completely wrong. Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: Yesterday the member for Murdoch asked - Why were the work safety orders issued by WorkSafe WA not complied with by the due date? No WorkSafe order has not been complied with by the due date. The member was completely wrong. Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Yesterday the member for Murdoch asked - Why were the work safety orders issued by WorkSafe WA not complied with by the due date? No WorkSafe order has not been complied with by the due date. The member was completely wrong. Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: Yesterday the member for Murdoch asked - Why were the work safety orders issued by WorkSafe WA not complied with by the due date? No WorkSafe order has not been complied with by the due date. The member was completely wrong. Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Yesterday the member for Murdoch asked - Why were the work safety orders issued by WorkSafe WA not complied with by the due date? No WorkSafe order has not been complied with by the due date. The member was completely wrong. Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Mr M.F. Board: You just extended them. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I did not extend anything. There is nothing contrary to what I have said to the House today in any way, shape or form. Let me make this point: on 6 March, Debbie Freeman was bashed at the Swan mental health facility. It was a tragedy and one about which everyone in this House felt considerable compassion. WorkSafe was brought onto the site the following Monday. Six March was a Saturday. I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
I will give the member an indication of what has occurred since then. The viewing panel from the interview room has been changed so that it now looks out into the corridor, as was indicated to the Premier and me when we visited the site on that occasion. Twelve personal mobile phones have been made available to the community mental health staff, which were not previously available. The pool of available vehicles has been increased to ensure that the community mental health nurses can get on with their job. These are all things that have been done. Alarm upgrades have now been undertaken at both of the mental health facilities on the Swan site. A cap has been placed on secure patients, down from the eight, which was the norm, to six. A team of three people, rather than two, has attended unknown community patients in the aftermath of an incident. That is an additional safety measure. What the future might hold in respect of that provision remains to be seen. However, it was thought important, so soon after the tragedy occurred, that additional staffing be provided to meet that need. There is an extra nurse per shift to provide additional security, and additional staff to undertake the work. Personal duress alarms have been agreed to in principle. However, that is now being addressed on a system-wide basis to make sure that those facilities are made available to everyone in the system, not just those people at the Swan facility. It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
It can be seen that there has been a substantive response to the tragedy that happened to Nurse Debbie Freeman on that occasion. For the member for Murdoch to make cheap political capital out of misrepresenting the position and out of a nurse who was bashed is about as low as it gets. To misrepresent the position, as has been done by the member for Murdoch, is despicable.
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