For Immediate Release
Health Consumers’ Council WA welcomes Premier Cook’s announcement today of the team of ministers who will be leading the health and well-being portfolios in the new term of government.
Clare Mullen, Executive Director of Health Consumers’ Council, said “On behalf of health consumers, patients, families and people with lived experience we congratulate the Honourable Meredith Hammat MLA on her appointment as Minister for Health and Mental Health. We are encouraged that this portfolio is being led by someone who had the opportunity to hear directly from the community about their priorities for health in her role on the Sustainable Health Review Panel.”
In the run up to the election, HCC outlined our ambitions for the community in relation to health:
- increased investment in primary care
- increased investment in preventative health measures
- a continued focus on improving the efficiency and capacity of the hospital system
- improved access to health care in the community.
We are delighted that these priorities have been recognised with the allocation of ministerial portfolios and extend our congratulation to the other Ministers with specific health responsibilities:
- Minister John Carey MLA, Minister for Health Infrastructure
- Minister Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Preventative Health
- Minister Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors
- Minister Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Medical Research
- Minister Paul Papalia MLA, Minister for Emergency Services
We are further please to see that in addition to the new health portfolios that Ministers have also been assigned regional portfolios which we hope will enable a positive focus on more place-based care and community-led health initiatives.
We look forward to working with the whole ministerial team and Premier Cook in the coming weeks and months to discuss how they might deliver a fairer more inclusive health service that meets the needs of all Western Australians. HCC has a proud history of ensuring that health consumers, patients, carers, and people with lived experience are active partners in planning and delivering health and healthcare improvements for all West Australians deserve, and we will continue our advocacy to ensure that they are involved at every level of decision-making in health.
**Ends.**
For further comment, please contact Clare Mullen, Executive Director, 0488 701 839, clare.mullen@hconc.org.au