WA’s new Health Minister says ‘buck stops with Premier Roger Cook’ as she’s grilled on ambulance ramping

WA’s new Health Minister says the “buck stops with the Premier” but that ultimately a “team approach” will make or break the portfolio that has been controversially splintered. In her first press conference in the role, Meredith Hammat fielded questions on ambulance ramping and demand on Perth’s hospitals. She said each of the five ministers on Cabinet’s new health-subcommittee — revealed in Roger Cook’s reshuffle — will have a crucial role to play. Minister for Preventative Health, Sabine Winton, Hospital Infrastructure Minister John Carey, Minister for Aged Care Simone McGurk and Minister for Medical Research Stephen Dawson are also on the subcommittee. Ms Hammat and Ms Winton have been assigned joint responsibility for reducing demand on hospitals. “All of the Cook Labor Government are keen to be a part of finding solutions to make sure that people in WA get access to the health care the need. So we’ll work together as a team,” Ms Hammat said on Friday. At a press conference to announce free access to flu vaccines to start on May 1, she was asked who the buck stops with. Ms Hammat looked over her shoulder to the Premier, who nodded and signalled it was him. “As the lead Minister clearly I’ve got an important role,” said Ms Hammat, who has previously rejected accusations she doesn’t have the experience to take on the tough portfolio. “The buck stops with the Premier, but the buck stops with all of us. In the end, we know this is a really important issue for Western Australians.” Ambulance ramping soared past 3000 hours per month when Mr Cook was Health Minister. Ambulances spent more than 5000 hours ramped outside ED’s in March. “We have a plan about ramping and we have already added additional beds, 800 additional beds, we’ve added additional staff,” Ms Hammat said. “There’s lots of complex causes to ramping, there’ not one silver bullet. Our plan we’ve had in place for a number of years. We’re going to go further on the back of the election commitments we’ve made.” Ms Hammat also revealed she recently met with the grieving parents of toddler Sandipan Dhar, who died of undiagnosed leukaemia at Joondalup Hospital. She has also toured Royal Perth Hospital and other emergency departments, since being sworn-in two weeks ago. “I’ve had the opportunity not just to get briefings, but to visit five or our hospitals and also visit the State Operations Centre,” Ms Hammat said. “That’s about me listening to what staff have to say, and seeing first hand the incredible work they do.”