Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:29): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in another place, a question about the Women's and Children's Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: The state government has today announced it is investing $20 million into what it has described as a significant upgrade of the Women's and Children's Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, otherwise known as the PICU, as part of this year's state budget. The funding commitment is part of $27 million in sustainment works for the next 12 months for the current hospital, while planning continues for the new Women's and Children's Hospital—funding that has attracted significant criticism from frontline clinicians at the hospital.

It follows the revelation last year that the hospital lost its teaching accreditation following a scathing assessment by the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand. This assessment came following an earlier warning by college officials that the unit was at risk of losing its credentials to train young doctors in providing intensive care to children. At a subsequent select committee hearing, Women's and Children's Hospital chief executive, Lindsey Gough, and the hospital's Executive Director of Medical Services, Dr Gavin Wheaton, gave unconvincing evidence about their knowledge of the crisis. My question to the minister is:

1. What is the current status of all accreditations at the Women's and Children's Hospital?

2. Can he give a start date and completion date for the urgent works, as there is a real fear, given the PICU is no longer accredited for training, the hospital will struggle to attract new trainees, while present staff will get more disheartened and leave?

3. Does he have full confidence in Ms Gough and Dr Wheaton given the accreditation crisis impacting the hospital?

4. Does he believe the $27 million for sustainment works is enough to address all the issues at the hospital—including ongoing serious issues in the hospital, including its provision of cancer services, or lack thereof—when clinicians believe the amount needed is more like $100 million plus?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:31): I thank the honourable member for his question, and I will be most happy to refer those to the minister in another place and bring back a reply for the member.