Legionella expert says there’s ‘something wrong’ at Perth Hospital, as Minister avoids ‘world class’ label

Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey insists high levels of legionella bacteria at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are not unusual as he rejected calls for new funding to fast-track much-needed repairs at the ailing facility. But Mr Carey refused on Wednesday to repeat Premier Roger Cook’s claim that WA’s health system is world class, under heavy questioning outside State Parliament. “I’m not going to get into those claims,” Mr Carey said. “I would say this, that we are making unprecedented investment in our hospital system, a big, bold infrastructure program and that we do provide quality health services. “But I also acknowledge that we do face challenges in relation to the ageing assets.” Testing results of water at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, obtained by The West Australian as part of an exclusive investigation into maintenance issues at the facility, revealed the legionella bacteria, which causes potentially deadly respiratory infections, had been found at unacceptable levels almost 60 times in the past two years. Elevated levels have been found in bathroom basins and showers, in patient areas of an acute medical ward, in the emergency department, as well as a kitchen tap in the Youth Cancer Centre. Mr Carey said he had been assured patients were not at risk. “It is an occurrence that happens all the time, particularly when you have cooling systems,” he said. “The advice from the health department is there’s not been a regular trend, and so we have to have the testing regime in place. “I mean, the point is, are patients at risk? No. Are we doing a regular testing regime? Yes. Are we acting immediately in accordance with the protocols. Yes. “What I want to assure West Australians is that the hospital is safe, that we are following what is required, and that testing is undertaken regularly.” But an environmental microbiologist confirmed the levels detected at SCGH, of 5200 colony forming units per millilitre, are “pretty high”. “What that really shows us is that the conditions in the hospital building system are really supporting the growth of legionella,” Prof. Harriet Whiley told ABC Drive. “It’s actually multiplying and growing really happily and that’s when we should start getting concerns. “If you’re getting them consistently and you’re getting them at high numbers consistently what that indicates is that there’s something wrong with your current management strategy and it’s really hard when you’re battling old infrastructure. “Elevated and ongoing high levels does pose a risk to patients in a hospital, definitely.” Mr Carey is one of five ministers splitting responsibility for health, as the Cook Government faces increasing public pressure after The West exposed record hours of ambulance ramping, and hundreds of work orders for repairs at SCGH — including leaking sewerage pipes. Mr Cook has gone on the defence this week when pressed on the health system issues and accused the Opposition of “scare-mongering”. He called Basil Zempilas a “risk to patient lives” in Parliament on Tuesday because the Liberal Leader called for $217 million to be diverted from the Burswood racetrack plan to hospital repairs. Mr Zempilas hit back on Wednesday, arguing that the response from the Premier and his Ministers in Parliament on Tuesday was “so dismissive of our health workers, they are ropeable today”. “They are incensed that they were shown no respect by the Premier, the man who ultimately is in charge,” he said. “And then they continue that lack of respect by saying, we’re going ahead with a project that really is illogical at this time. At the very least they should be pausing it.” Shadow health minister Libby Mettam said the Government was not taking the issues seriously. “Time and time again, we see the Premier downplaying the crisis that’s happening in our crumbling health system,” she said. “This is just more deflection from a Premier and a conga line of Health Ministers who are not taking these issues from staff and patients seriously.” During question time on Wednesday, Mr Cook said the State’s health system was the “best funded in the country” and denied his impersonation of Mr Zempilas “flailing” dismissed health workers’ concerns. “I’m critiquing the Leader of the Opposition and somehow that reflects on the doctors and nurses of Western Australia? We’ve seen some long bows drown in this place, that would have to be the longest,” he said. Debate was heated and, at times, personal as the Opposition goaded Mr Carey over whether WA’s hospitals are “world class” and he accused them of launching a “campaign of misinformation”. Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter repeatedly interjected, demanding Mr Carey “back your boss” and “is it world class?”, prompting the Minister to fire up. “I’m not going to have you yell and scream at me,” he said. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said it’s “no secret” that Sir Charles Gairdner hospital is an “ageing” hospital, but avoided Opposition questions about whether she has asked for more funding for maintenance. While Treasurer Rita Saffioti said Opposition claims of a $34 million budget cut were wrong and didn’t include funding for PathWest labs. “We know what the Liberal Party’s like with numbers, not great,” she said. “You didn’t compare like with like.” Minister for Medical Research Stephen Dawson also wouldn’t be drawn on repeating Mr Cook’s comment that the State’s hospital system was world class, instead just saying he was confident that the five health ministers were “working collaboratively as a team”. “We’re spending a significant amount on medical research, but our Infrastructure Minister and our Health Minister are also working hard to deliver quality services to people in WA in the health system,” he said. Mr Carey said hospital upgrades worth $75 million were already underway at SCGH. “I’m not dismissive ever of nurses concerns, and that’s why you have seen two critical upgrades underway,” he said, as he denied Labor was prioritising entertainment above health. “We have made record investments in the health system. The facts don’t lie,” he said. “Since 2017 an additional $14 billion, in fact this year alone an additional $1.4 billion into the health system. If you look at the investment, even the investment in this year’s budget it puts pale in comparison to the other projects you’re talking about.” Asked whether it was still too little, and too late, to cope with Perth’s population pressures, Mr Carey pointed to upgrades at hospitals in Geraldton, Bunbury and the new Women’s and Babies hospital that is due to open in Murdoch in 2029. “We’ve already completed upgrades in the hospital system, I mean we did have a thing called Covid that did create a massive shock across all agencies, including housing,” he said. Pressed on why Metronet was finished first, he rejected the comparison. “These are big projects. We have a big infrastructure program, I don’t accept that criticism,” Mr Carey said.