Thursday, 16 November 2023

South-West Coast electorate

Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (14:46): (434) My question is to the Minister for Health. Following the release today of Portland hospital’s annual report, I ask the minister what she intends to do to turn around the failing health service and provide Portland with the medical services it deserves. Today’s report paints a picture of decreased and lost services, staff retention issues and flagging morale. But even before today’s report was released I had been receiving countless concerned accounts of the hospital being on bypass, anaesthetists being on stress leave and ophthalmologists having left. I am told general surgeons are in limbo waiting for their contracts to be renewed and are reluctant to operate without onsite doctors to back them up overnight. Hard-fought-for maternity services continue to be plagued with rumours of cuts. There are times when there are no doctors available in the precinct, and the emergency department is under enormous pressure with good registered nurses grappling to provide life support. It is clear the state government is letting the community down and letting hardworking staff down. We should be pulling out all stops to ensure this health service, so far from other major hospitals, is given all the backup and support needed to care for its population.