Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): A further supplementary: can the minister actually explain to the house what exactly has been done to implement the Premier's decision, made over two months ago? What has actually happened in the two months since the Premier made the announcement that all cardiac service would remain at The QEH? What steps have been taken?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:26): I understand that the department has been working through a number of different options around how that will be done, and the planning around it has been put together.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS: Now, now, I am sure the honourable members opposite, particularly the Leader of the Opposition in this place, would appreciate that when it comes to matters that are health, that require feedback from clinicians, detailed plans to be put in place, it is not just a matter of sitting down and having one meeting and all the answers flow from that. A lot of detail has to be worked through to ensure that things are done safely. If the member opposite is advocating that we do this in a way that is speedy, if he is indicating that we do it in a way that is reckless and that could compromise patient outcomes, then that is their prerogative.

We are aware that we have a change in health minister on the government side, and then 48 hours later, all of a sudden the Liberal Party come up with a policy in respect to Modbury Hospital. That's fine, but what we are doing, when it comes to making appropriate changes, is that we get the detail right. Getting the detail right is really important when we are talking about key clinical service delivery decisions. That is why we won't be rushing this in a way that would be reckless. We are making sure we work through the detail appropriately. I have already received one brief on this particular issue. I suspect there will be more to come, and we will make sure that when we do deliver on this commitment, it is done in a way that is utterly appropriate.