MIDWIVES
— REGIONS
353. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the minister's recognition of this issue, how many pregnant mums
have been turned away from the Carnarvon hospital because the services are not
up to scratch?
Ms A.
SANDERSON replied:
No-one is turned away. Let us just
think about it. No-one says, ''I'm sorry; we're not
going to deal with you.'' We have a universal public health system and
we are proud of it. No-one is turned away. We work with those women around their birthing plan, their due date, where
they need to have their baby—whether that is in Perth or Geraldton—and
who they need around them. No-one is turned away; they are all supported.
Ms L. Mettam: They're
going elsewhere, aren't they!
Ms A. SANDERSON: They cannot
have their babies in Carnarvon because there is not a midwife there.
Ms L. Mettam: That's
turned away.
Ms A. SANDERSON: No-one is
turned away. You expose yourself as such a lightweight in this area with your
lack of understanding. Do you seriously think that the WA health system is
turning women away? It is not true. The member should stop spreading
misinformation.