WOMEN'S AND
BABIES' HOSPITAL
772. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Can the minister confirm that his current plan is just to paint over the
significant issues at King Edward Memorial
Hospital rather than provide a desperately needed standalone new maternity
hospital for Western Australia?
Mr R.H. COOK replied:
The other day, I went to a staff
forum at King Edward Memorial Hospital. The room, although well physically distanced, was packed. All those staff were there
to ask one thing: will it be a distinct women's and babies'
hospital; will it be relocated to QEII; and is this government committed
to that? I was able to answer yes on all counts, and the staff applauded. They
applauded because they know that we are keeping their hospital safe in that
older facility as it is at the moment. They know that we are doing the hard
work. They know that we are working with the staff and the clinicians around
what the future design should look like. They know that with the McGowan
government in office, the future for a new women's and babies'
hospital is secure.