❓ Question regarding the relocation of specialist medical services from Derby to Broome in the Kimberley region, focusing on the impact on rural patients, costs, and hospital capacity. The Minister defends the move, citing benefits and cultural appropriateness.
AnsweredQoN 236Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regards to the Minister’s support for the relocation of specialist medical services from a recognised and accepted culturally acceptable central service location in the Kimberley (Derby) to a non-central or accepted location (Broome) -
(1) Will the Minister explain what additional benefits this move would have in relation to patients in rural and remote Kimberley regions?
(2) What are the anticipated capital works costs in the region to accommodate this move?
(3) What are the anticipated extra costs to the Government for patients travel (PATS) and other associated costs (hotels etc.), as compared to the existing facilities that are available in the current location at Derby?
(4) Will Broome hospital have available extra beds to cope with the increased influx of patients from the Kimberley region?
(5) If not, how will the Health Department cope?
(1) Will the Minister explain what additional benefits this move would have in relation to patients in rural and remote Kimberley regions?
(2) What are the anticipated capital works costs in the region to accommodate this move?
(3) What are the anticipated extra costs to the Government for patients travel (PATS) and other associated costs (hotels etc.), as compared to the existing facilities that are available in the current location at Derby?
(4) Will Broome hospital have available extra beds to cope with the increased influx of patients from the Kimberley region?
(5) If not, how will the Health Department cope?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
23 days
I thank the Honourable Member for the question, but disagree that Broome is not a culturally acceptable location. The recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the August 2001 Census indicates that in comparison with all other Shires in the Kimberley, the Shire of Broome has the highest population of people of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.
1.
Additional benefits to Kimberley patients will be:
- Increased patient contact time with the Regional Specialists due to the reduced road travel demands placed on the Regional Specialists (no need to spend 5 hours on the road just to catch a plane to Kununurra and back);
- Improved air transport options for clinically eligible patients, particularly those from the towns of Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Kununurra and Wyndham;
- Improved continuity of care for acute patients resulting from a lower turnover of clinical staff (including specialist nurses);
- Clinically safer care through the retention of staff who understand the particular needs of the population they are serving because of their longevity of service in the region;
- Significantly reduced risk of not having any resident Regional Specialists to service the whole Kimberley.
2.
The future needs of Broome are currently being examined, and the impact of the decision to relocate the Specialist Services from Derby to Broome in the future will be incorporated into this assessment.
3.
PATS accommodation costs will not increase as a result of this move, as the entitlement in Derby is the same as in Broome, being a maximum of $35 per night.
As not all patient referrals to the Regional Specialists will change from Derby to Broome it is not possible to quantify the amount of savings or additional costs that may be associated with patient transport.
4.
The future needs of Broome are currently being examined.
5.
Not applicable.
1.
Additional benefits to Kimberley patients will be:
- Increased patient contact time with the Regional Specialists due to the reduced road travel demands placed on the Regional Specialists (no need to spend 5 hours on the road just to catch a plane to Kununurra and back);
- Improved air transport options for clinically eligible patients, particularly those from the towns of Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Kununurra and Wyndham;
- Improved continuity of care for acute patients resulting from a lower turnover of clinical staff (including specialist nurses);
- Clinically safer care through the retention of staff who understand the particular needs of the population they are serving because of their longevity of service in the region;
- Significantly reduced risk of not having any resident Regional Specialists to service the whole Kimberley.
2.
The future needs of Broome are currently being examined, and the impact of the decision to relocate the Specialist Services from Derby to Broome in the future will be incorporated into this assessment.
3.
PATS accommodation costs will not increase as a result of this move, as the entitlement in Derby is the same as in Broome, being a maximum of $35 per night.
As not all patient referrals to the Regional Specialists will change from Derby to Broome it is not possible to quantify the amount of savings or additional costs that may be associated with patient transport.
4.
The future needs of Broome are currently being examined.
5.
Not applicable.
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.