Question Time

Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health regarding public health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: In October last year, a letter was sent from doctors to health administrators warning of burnout and serious safety risks at the Women's and Children's Hospital. The Salaried Medical Officers Association has now warned of a potential collapse in services. The letter included warnings that:

The reductions across nursing and allied health services…are negatively impacting on the overall quality of patient care.

And that:

…medical advice…is being consistently ignored without explanation or justification.

This letter has now been endorsed by 215 doctors and counting. My questions to the minister are:

1. How soon after the letter was cc'd to him in October last year did the minister actually read the letter?

2. What immediate action did the minister take when he read the doctors' concerns that services are on the brink of collapse?

3. Does the minister accept the concerns of 215 doctors that staff reductions are negatively impacting on patient care?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for his question. The medical staff society wrote to the CEO of the Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) on 21 October 2019. My understanding was that the letter was brought to my attention the following day and an update was sought immediately.