Ultrasound petitioner demands answers

A Tom Price resident who petitioned the State Government for more frequent ultrasound services is pondering her next move after a response letter from the WA Health Minister left her unsatisfied.

Lead petitioner and Tom Price resident Emma Nicholls said a lot of community members were annoyed at Kim Hames' response saying the current once-a-week fly-in visit to Tom Price and Newman for ultrasounds was "appropriate for the demand in general terms".

Mrs Nicholls gathered 535 signatures from a total 4643 residents, as of the 2011 census, from the towns of Tom Price and Paraburdoo and wondered why 30 per cent of the towns speaking out at the issue was not enough.

"I'm sure if I had more time, I could have got more (people to sign)," Mrs Nicholls said.

"We're not asking for state-of-the-art services and trained super doctors like they have in Perth - we just want an extra day.

"If we did have an extra day, it would ease a lot of minds of people wanting to get in for an ultrasound at short notice."

After a query from the North West Telegraph, the Minister's office did not clarify what issues there would be in increasing the service to twice a week to the towns, or whether Tom Price residents having to travel by ambulance about 40 minutes to Paraburdoo in emergencies requiring the Royal Flying Doctor Service was good enough.

Mr Hames said ultrasound services were also available in Karratha and Port Hedland, where a combined 640 to 680 ultrasounds were performed each month, according to WA Country Health Service.

Mrs Nicholls said she thought people in Perth still didn't realise how remote Tom Price residents were.

"We're still three hours away from Newman - what's supposed to happen if you can't find your baby's heartbeat or something drastic like that," she said.

Mr Hames also didn't clarify whether upgrades to Pilbara hospitals through the State Government's $161 million North West Health Initiative would result in increased ultrasound services or the reintroduction of obstetrics care in Tom Price and Newman.

"A business case for NWHI is being finalised which will determine the funding allocation and scope of works for all NWHI projects," he said.

"Some delays are envisaged as the program of works is rescheduled in line with funding allocation."

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Stephen Dawson said the Tom Price community had every right to be disappointed by the Government's response to the petition for more ultrasound services.

"The Minister for Health only needs to visit Tom Price to see the growing number of young families living in town," he said.

"People are shocked to find out that some health services are only available once a week with the only other option to drive to Hedland or fly to Perth to access them." Mr Dawson said he would survey residents regarding preferred health services.

We're not asking for state of the art services and trained super doctors like they have in Perth - we just want an extra day. Emma Nicholls