Health—Radiation therapy services
267. Mr Liam Staltarito theMinister for Health:
I refer the minister to her answer to my question on 28 May regarding funding for radiation therapy services in the north metropolitan area in which the minister told me to wait for budget day. Can the minister please let me know the page number and line number that includes the new funding for these services because I cannot seem to find it in the budget?
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! You are not the minister.
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
I thank the member. The member will recall that at the time there were questions and we had a matter of public interest motion that looked into the provision of those cancer services. I said then and I will say again that I know this is an important issue that people living in the eastern suburbs and the member's community are facing. I also said we are always looking at how we can deliver the services that people need, particularly for those who live in the eastern part of the city. Patients can access cancer care like chemotherapy for common cancers like lung, breast and prostate at St John of God Midland Public Hospital without out-of-pocket expenses.
When this issue came up previously, I also said that the federal government has a role to play in the resolution of the issue, and that we will continue to talk to it to find a solution. I can confirm that I have had the opportunity to raise this issue with Minister Butler and we will continue to look at what more we can do.
I also want to take this opportunity to remind people, particularly those who live near the member's community, that we were at the Joondalup Health Campus today to open a fantastic new ward with some brilliant facilities, that people in the member's community will benefit from. There are more beds, new surgeries and two cath labs. They are state-of-the-art facilities and a fantastic addition. I also make the point that for those in the eastern suburbs, we have, in conjunction with the federal government, committed to doing a major upgrade to the Midland hospital. Member, I may have said there is an opportunity to look at what is available in the budget, but I was very clear at the time that the key issue that needs to be resolved is that of the federal government. We will continue to raise it with it.
268. Mr Liam Staltarito theMinister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Instead of passing the buck to the federal government, why does this government not use the budget to fund these crucial services?
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
Because it is not necessarily a budget question, member; it is to do with the federal government.
The Speaker: That concludes question time.
