Royal Children’s Hospital
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:14): (1496) My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, 20 new emergency department beds at the Royal Children’s Hospital cannot be staffed. The hospital made a funding request to the government to enable these beds to open and operate, but the government rejected the request. Why?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:14): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. She is simply incorrect. I am very proud of the fact that our government has supported over $15.5 billion worth of health infrastructure projects since coming to government. That is transformational for our health system. That is right across the state. In fact we have built or upgraded nearly every emergency department in every major hospital in the state. I am very proud that we are investing $56.4 million to expand the Royal Children’s Hospital emergency department. We have already opened 30 beds in the inpatient ward as part of that project, and the next stage of the project is 20 additional points of care in the emergency department. We are working very closely with the Royal Children’s Hospital, through the Department of Health, on work to commission this when the project is completed towards the end of this year. That is the normal way in which these commissioning proposals and projects commence.
I want to take the opportunity to thank the incredible team at the Royal Children’s Hospital, who provide care to some of the state’s sickest children. We will always back their calls for additional support, which we have done and are proud to do through this particular infrastructure project. We know that the demand is there, and that is why we are supporting this project, and that is why we will get on and continue the work with them to make sure that these beds are operationalised at the conclusion of the construction project.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:16): I am intrigued with the minister’s answer – the very rehearsed answer – but I actually understand that there was a request. The minister’s response was quite curious. Minister, the government rejected the pleas from the Royal Children’s Hospital. Can you guarantee that all 20 beds will be open and fully staffed in November?