❓ Hon. Brian Ellis questions the Health Minister regarding the hospitalisation and transfer of Dr. Luke Neil after an assault, focusing on the choice of transport, ambulance arrangements, and flight cost reimbursement. The Minister's response refers to a previous debate, drawing criticism from other members.
AnsweredQoN 604Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DR LUKE NEIL
I refer to the hospitalisation of Dr Luke Neil after he was attacked at Sunset Beach in Geraldton on Christmas Day, leaving him in excruciating pain with a broken jaw, an ear nearly severed from his head and choking on his own blood. (1) Given that the Royal Flying Doctor Service has confirmed that it had a flight available and given that the flying doctor was already in the process of transferring another patient to Perth at the time, why did Geraldton Regional Hospital consider the options of a seat on a commercial flight that did not leave for two days or road transport that would take five hours? (2) Why did the Geraldton hospital not arrange for an ambulance to meet the family’s charter flight when it reached Perth? (3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY
I refer to the hospitalisation of Dr Luke Neil after he was attacked at Sunset Beach in Geraldton on Christmas Day, leaving him in excruciating pain with a broken jaw, an ear nearly severed from his head and choking on his own blood. (1) Given that the Royal Flying Doctor Service has confirmed that it had a flight available and given that the flying doctor was already in the process of transferring another patient to Perth at the time, why did Geraldton Regional Hospital consider the options of a seat on a commercial flight that did not leave for two days or road transport that would take five hours? (2) Why did the Geraldton hospital not arrange for an ambulance to meet the family’s charter flight when it reached Perth? (3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(1) Given that the Royal Flying Doctor Service has confirmed that it had a flight available and given that the flying doctor was already in the process of transferring another patient to Perth at the time, why did Geraldton Regional Hospital consider the options of a seat on a commercial flight that did not leave for two days or road transport that would take five hours? (2) Why did the Geraldton hospital not arrange for an ambulance to meet the family’s charter flight when it reached Perth? (3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(2) Why did the Geraldton hospital not arrange for an ambulance to meet the family’s charter flight when it reached Perth? (3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not?
(c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(1) Given that the Royal Flying Doctor Service has confirmed that it had a flight available and given that the flying doctor was already in the process of transferring another patient to Perth at the time, why did Geraldton Regional Hospital consider the options of a seat on a commercial flight that did not leave for two days or road transport that would take five hours? (2) Why did the Geraldton hospital not arrange for an ambulance to meet the family’s charter flight when it reached Perth? (3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(2) Why did the Geraldton hospital not arrange for an ambulance to meet the family’s charter flight when it reached Perth? (3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(3) Given that the family claims it has never been offered a flight cost reimbursement and that the WA Country Health Service claims it has made a repeat offer to reimburse the family — (a) when was the first offer made, under what circumstances and by whom; (b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not? (4) Who pays the cost if a patient is transferred between hospitals by the Royal Flying Doctor Service? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
(b) is this an offer to pay the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars for a seat on a commercial flight, which would not have left until 27 December, or the $1 500 cost of the private charter; and (c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not?
(c) if the offer is not for the cost of the charter flight, will the minister reconsider; and, if not, why not?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Health provides the following answer — I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
I refer the member to the motion debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 11 June 2008. Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Simon O’Brien : What a pathetic effort. Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Norman Moore : This is a house of Parliament, which is different from that one and we answer questions here. Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Sue Ellery : I have given you the answer that I was provided. Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Norman Moore : That is a pathetic answer; you should tell the minister it is appalling. Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
Hon Sue Ellery : I am sure he — The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Donna Faragher is about to ask a question.
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