❓ This detailed parliamentary question scrutinises the Wheatbelt Health Network's delivery of health services in Northam and Narrogin, focusing on funding, contractual compliance, governance, and service delivery, particularly regarding doctor availability and financial oversight.
⏳ Awaiting AnswerQoN 2676Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Wheatbelt Health Network and its delivery of health services in Northam and Narrogin, including funding arrangements, contractual obligations, governance, oversight and service delivery, and I ask:
(a) What is the total annual value of Tender Record WACHS2019394207 relating to the provision of health services in Northam and Narrogin;
(b) What services is the Wheatbelt Health Network contracted to provide under this agreement;
(c) What minimum doctor servicing requirements are specified for Northam under the contract;
(d) Has the Minister or the WA Country Health Service received any complaints or reports alleging that contracted services have not been fully delivered;
(e) During the 2024–25 financial year, how many days per week was the Wheatbelt Health Network contracted to provide doctor services in Northam;
(f) During the 2024–25 financial year, how many days per week were doctor services actually delivered in Northam;
(g) What auditing or compliance mechanisms are in place to verify delivery of contracted services by the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(h) Has any funding been withheld, recovered or reviewed due to alleged under delivery of services by the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(i) What was the total amount of State Government funding provided to the Wheatbelt Health Network in each of the last five financial years;
(j) What proportion of funding provided to the Wheatbelt Health Network in each of the last five financial years related to Aboriginal health programs, including the Strengthening Aboriginal Health Program;
(k) Has the Department undertaken any review into the expenditure of funds provided to the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(l) Is the Minister aware of concerns raised regarding director remuneration and board fees at the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(m) Has the Department or WA Country Health Service reviewed whether Government funding has indirectly contributed to increases in board remuneration at the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(n) Does the Government place any limitations or governance requirements on executive or board remuneration for organisations receiving public health funding;
(o) What governance, financial management and reporting obligations are imposed on not-for-profit organisations receiving funding through WA Country Health Service contracts;
(p) When was the Wheatbelt Health Network last audited or reviewed by the WA Country Health Service;
(q) Were any compliance issues identified during the most recent audit or review of the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(r) Will the Minister table any audit, compliance or performance review reports relating to the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(s) Has the WA Country Health Service undertaken any investigation into allegations of underdelivery of health services by the Wheatbelt Health Network in Northam or Narrogin:
(i) if yes - when did the investigation commence and what were its findings; and
(ii) if no - will the Minister direct the WA Country Health Service to undertake a review;
(t) What measures are in place to ensure taxpayers receive value for money under contracted regional health service agreement;
(u) Does the WA Country Health Service independently verify clinical service delivery before payments are made under regional health service contracts;
(v) How many breaches of contracted service delivery obligations have been identified across regional health service contracts in each of the last five years;
(w) What contingency arrangements are in place when contracted regional medical services are unavailable;
(x) Were alternative medical services provided to patients in Northam during periods where doctor services were allegedly unavailable; and
(y) Were patients notified when contracted services were reduced or unavailable?
Answered on
(a) What is the total annual value of Tender Record WACHS2019394207 relating to the provision of health services in Northam and Narrogin;
(b) What services is the Wheatbelt Health Network contracted to provide under this agreement;
(c) What minimum doctor servicing requirements are specified for Northam under the contract;
(d) Has the Minister or the WA Country Health Service received any complaints or reports alleging that contracted services have not been fully delivered;
(e) During the 2024–25 financial year, how many days per week was the Wheatbelt Health Network contracted to provide doctor services in Northam;
(f) During the 2024–25 financial year, how many days per week were doctor services actually delivered in Northam;
(g) What auditing or compliance mechanisms are in place to verify delivery of contracted services by the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(h) Has any funding been withheld, recovered or reviewed due to alleged under delivery of services by the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(i) What was the total amount of State Government funding provided to the Wheatbelt Health Network in each of the last five financial years;
(j) What proportion of funding provided to the Wheatbelt Health Network in each of the last five financial years related to Aboriginal health programs, including the Strengthening Aboriginal Health Program;
(k) Has the Department undertaken any review into the expenditure of funds provided to the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(l) Is the Minister aware of concerns raised regarding director remuneration and board fees at the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(m) Has the Department or WA Country Health Service reviewed whether Government funding has indirectly contributed to increases in board remuneration at the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(n) Does the Government place any limitations or governance requirements on executive or board remuneration for organisations receiving public health funding;
(o) What governance, financial management and reporting obligations are imposed on not-for-profit organisations receiving funding through WA Country Health Service contracts;
(p) When was the Wheatbelt Health Network last audited or reviewed by the WA Country Health Service;
(q) Were any compliance issues identified during the most recent audit or review of the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(r) Will the Minister table any audit, compliance or performance review reports relating to the Wheatbelt Health Network;
(s) Has the WA Country Health Service undertaken any investigation into allegations of underdelivery of health services by the Wheatbelt Health Network in Northam or Narrogin:
(i) if yes - when did the investigation commence and what were its findings; and
(ii) if no - will the Minister direct the WA Country Health Service to undertake a review;
(t) What measures are in place to ensure taxpayers receive value for money under contracted regional health service agreement;
(u) Does the WA Country Health Service independently verify clinical service delivery before payments are made under regional health service contracts;
(v) How many breaches of contracted service delivery obligations have been identified across regional health service contracts in each of the last five years;
(w) What contingency arrangements are in place when contracted regional medical services are unavailable;
(x) Were alternative medical services provided to patients in Northam during periods where doctor services were allegedly unavailable; and
(y) Were patients notified when contracted services were reduced or unavailable?
Answered on
AnswerView source ↗
⏳
This question is awaiting a response from the Minister.
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