COMMUNITY
MIDWIFERY PROGRAM
625. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the minister confirm that there have just been 40 additional midwives since the
McGowan government has come to office, and to what extent has this been an
issue beyond the last 12 months?
The SPEAKER: Sorry, that is
for just one question. You have asked two questions. Minister, I just direct
you to answer the first question.
Mr R.H.
COOK replied:
I can confirm that since coming to
government, there has been a 12.9 per cent increase in the number of nurses and
midwives practising in our system. Under the Labor government, there has been
an increase in the overall workforce. The
only time over the last eight years when we have seen the nursing and midwifery
workforce decrease was under the previous government. We will continue
to make sure that we can attract great nurses and midwives to practise their
craft in our health system, because it is a world-class health system that is
providing great service under difficult circumstances.