Health system
Ms STALEY (Ripon) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Health. The minister stated to this house that members of Parliament needed to obtain consent before she was able to comment on or action their concerns in relation to health matters of constituents. Did the minister receive written consent from Kylie or Jason Hennessy before inquiring about Kylie’s inability to get an MRI in Victoria to diagnose her brain tumour before she publicly spoke about it to the media?
Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:36): It is important to point out that it was not actually an MRI, it was an fMRI that Ms Hennessy was seeking, and of course it is exceptionally important because this is a highly specialised procedure. I became aware of Ms Hennessy’s case when it was reported on the front page of the Herald Sun and indeed was further reported across a range of media outlets—and, I might say, on the Twitter accounts of a number of those in the opposition. It was public knowledge that Ms Hennessy needed an fMRI—
Ms Britnell interjected.
The SPEAKER: The member for South-West Coast can leave the chamber for 1 hour.
Member for South-West Coast withdrew from chamber.
Ms THOMAS: and that Ms Hennessy made a decision to travel to Adelaide to access the procedure, so I made an inquiry in relation to the technology. There was no breach at any time of Ms Hennessy’s privacy and personal details.
Ms STALEY (Ripon) (14:37): Last sitting week the minister told the house:
I cannot just ring up a hospital and say ‘Can you tell me about so and so?’ because that would be entirely inappropriate. Patient confidentiality is vital, so we require their consent. I need to know that the patient consents to their information being shared.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Members, this is a matter about a person’s health. I would ask you to be respectful.
Ms STALEY: With Mr Hennessy stating that the government never obtained written consent from him or his wife despite obtaining private details of their case and speaking about it publicly to the media, does the minister have any intention of apologising to the Hennessys for breaking the confidentiality she said was so important?
Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:38): The inquiries that I made and was quite clear about were in relation to the availability of the fMRI machines in our health services. In terms of Ms Hennessy, any information that I repeated was what had only been reported in the media. I have not been able to make any contact with Ms Hennessy because I do not have any of her personal details. However, if she wishes to approach me—and indeed via you, member for Ripon—I am more than happy to speak with her. But I do not have her details, and I have not breached her confidentiality or privacy.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Premier to come to order.