❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Health regarding a woman giving birth in an ambulance after the closure of maternity services at Kalamunda Hospital. The Minister defends the closure, citing upgrades at Swan District Hospital and the woman's choice of hospital.
AnsweredQoN 243Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KALAMUNDA DISTRICT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
I refer to the minister’s supposed interest in health services for outer metropolitan residents expressed earlier in this question time and his recent closure of maternity services at the Kalamunda District Community Hospital, very much against the wishes of the community. (1) What is the minister’s response to the situation yesterday in which a mother who was originally scheduled to have her baby at the Kalamunda District Community Hospital instead gave birth in the back of an ambulance on the Tonkin Highway because there was insufficient time to get to an alternative hospital? (2) Will the minister agree that one case like this, which was caused by the minister’s closure of maternity services, is one case too many, and will the minister commit to reopening maternity services at Kalamunda District Community Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY
I refer to the minister’s supposed interest in health services for outer metropolitan residents expressed earlier in this question time and his recent closure of maternity services at the Kalamunda District Community Hospital, very much against the wishes of the community. (1) What is the minister’s response to the situation yesterday in which a mother who was originally scheduled to have her baby at the Kalamunda District Community Hospital instead gave birth in the back of an ambulance on the Tonkin Highway because there was insufficient time to get to an alternative hospital? (2) Will the minister agree that one case like this, which was caused by the minister’s closure of maternity services, is one case too many, and will the minister commit to reopening maternity services at Kalamunda District Community Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
(1) What is the minister’s response to the situation yesterday in which a mother who was originally scheduled to have her baby at the Kalamunda District Community Hospital instead gave birth in the back of an ambulance on the Tonkin Highway because there was insufficient time to get to an alternative hospital? (2) Will the minister agree that one case like this, which was caused by the minister’s closure of maternity services, is one case too many, and will the minister commit to reopening maternity services at Kalamunda District Community Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
(2) Will the minister agree that one case like this, which was caused by the minister’s closure of maternity services, is one case too many, and will the minister commit to reopening maternity services at Kalamunda District Community Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
(1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
(1) What is the minister’s response to the situation yesterday in which a mother who was originally scheduled to have her baby at the Kalamunda District Community Hospital instead gave birth in the back of an ambulance on the Tonkin Highway because there was insufficient time to get to an alternative hospital? (2) Will the minister agree that one case like this, which was caused by the minister’s closure of maternity services, is one case too many, and will the minister commit to reopening maternity services at Kalamunda District Community Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
(2) Will the minister agree that one case like this, which was caused by the minister’s closure of maternity services, is one case too many, and will the minister commit to reopening maternity services at Kalamunda District Community Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
(1)-(2) When I heard about this case, I immediately investigated and made contact with the St John Ambulance Association, which transported that woman to hospital. I am told that mother and baby are doing well and I am delighted about that. With effect from 30 April, obstetric services at Kalamunda were transferred down to the bottom of the hill to Swan District Hospital. This was done because $2 million had been spent on upgrading maternity facilities at Swan District Hospital, including five new birthing suites, upgraded bathrooms and an upgraded general maternity ward. This development also gave women access to the full suite of hospital services, including, uniquely outside of King Edward Memorial Hospital, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week specialist obstetric care. Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.H.D. Day : What do you think about the situation yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : I am coming to that situation. The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
The Cohen report into obstetric services and the Reid report recommended the transfer of services from Kalamunda to Swan District Hospital. I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
I investigated the circumstances referred to by the member. This woman was booked in to have her third child at Kalamunda District Community Hospital. One of the most crucial issues in maternity services is the mother’s choice of the circumstances in which she wishes to have her baby. When we roll out the health reform program, there is enormous scope to add to the choices available to women regarding the types of care and the types of circumstances in which maternity services will be delivered in Western Australia. This woman, of her own free choice - it was her prerogative and I fully support her choice in this matter because that is the only way it can be dealt with - opted to go to a somewhat distant private hospital, the Mercy Hospital, as her alternative. Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.H.D. Day : That is probably about the same distance from Walliston as Swan District Hospital. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it is not. I checked this issue out with the ambulance service today. It is 30 minutes from Walliston, where the woman lives, to the Mercy Hospital. Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.H.D. Day : How long does it take to get to Swan District Hospital? Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : That trip would have been 10 minutes shorter. The St John Ambulance Association told me that if this woman had taken the option offered to her - it was her prerogative to reject it, and I make absolutely no criticism of that, because choice is the critical issue here - of going to Swan District Hospital - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is the critical point, if members would just listen. St John Ambulance told me that the baby would have been born at Swan District Hospital had the mother opted to go there. It was her choice, and that is something I completely respect, but I simply make this point. Mothers have the right to make that call. She made that call and now she and her baby are doing very well. Had she taken the option, which she did not want to take, of having a baby delivered at the newly refurbished Swan District Hospital maternity facility, the baby would have been born in hospital.
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