❓ Ms Mettam questions the Health Minister about hotel quarantine capacity for increased international arrivals, particularly regarding healthcare workers. The Minister refutes the premise, stating the system isn't at capacity and highlights ongoing efforts to recruit healthcare workers.
AnsweredQoN 786Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
HOTEL QUARANTINE — HEALTHCARE WORKERS
786. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Premier's
announcement that the cap for international arrivals will double from 20
November and the ABC news reports that suggest hotel quarantine capacity is
stopping skilled health workers from returning to Western Australia. With Western
Australia's hotel quarantine system running at capacity, where will the
additional 265 international arrivals each week quarantine?
HOTEL QUARANTINE — HEALTHCARE WORKERS
786. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Premier's
announcement that the cap for international arrivals will double from 20
November and the ABC news reports that suggest hotel quarantine capacity is
stopping skilled health workers from returning to Western Australia. With Western
Australia's hotel quarantine system running at capacity, where will the
additional 265 international arrivals each week quarantine?
AnswerView source ↗
The problem with the member's
question is that, as per usual, it is based upon a false premise. The fact of
the matter is that our hotel quarantine system is not operating at capacity.
Under the reduced arrangements that were implemented by national cabinet, we
have significant capacity in our hotel system. Notwithstanding that, all the
way along we have been utilising the opportunity to recruit healthcare workers
over the cap so we can continue to ensure
that our essential industries have the workers that they need. We have brought in
over 150 young doctors from the
United Kingdom and Ireland. We have recruited some nurses from those areas as
well. In addition to that, we are bringing
back people who entered our earlier Grampians campaign, which provided
opportunities for nurse graduates . They are now on their way back; they
are returning to Western Australia.
I talk to healthcare leaders right across this nation all the
time. I always ask them: ''What's your biggest challenge?''
Their response, every time, is ''Workforce''. I have just been up
at Joondalup Health Campus today. I asked them: ''What's your
biggest challenge?'' It is workforce.
We were having a look over their
new, expanded emergency department at Joondalup hospital. It is looking
fantastic. It is going to make a great contribution to our health system. I asked
them what is their biggest challenge and they said workforce. We know that all
health systems in all hospitals are challenged because of the shortage of
healthcare workers. We will overcome those challenges through our creativity
and hard work, including our recruitment campaign. It has been launched and is
running on the east coast and internationally as we speak. That will continue
to make sure that doctors, nurses and allied health staff realise what a great
opportunity there is for them to work in this terrific state, in a great health
system.
question is that, as per usual, it is based upon a false premise. The fact of
the matter is that our hotel quarantine system is not operating at capacity.
Under the reduced arrangements that were implemented by national cabinet, we
have significant capacity in our hotel system. Notwithstanding that, all the
way along we have been utilising the opportunity to recruit healthcare workers
over the cap so we can continue to ensure
that our essential industries have the workers that they need. We have brought in
over 150 young doctors from the
United Kingdom and Ireland. We have recruited some nurses from those areas as
well. In addition to that, we are bringing
back people who entered our earlier Grampians campaign, which provided
opportunities for nurse graduates . They are now on their way back; they
are returning to Western Australia.
I talk to healthcare leaders right across this nation all the
time. I always ask them: ''What's your biggest challenge?''
Their response, every time, is ''Workforce''. I have just been up
at Joondalup Health Campus today. I asked them: ''What's your
biggest challenge?'' It is workforce.
We were having a look over their
new, expanded emergency department at Joondalup hospital. It is looking
fantastic. It is going to make a great contribution to our health system. I asked
them what is their biggest challenge and they said workforce. We know that all
health systems in all hospitals are challenged because of the shortage of
healthcare workers. We will overcome those challenges through our creativity
and hard work, including our recruitment campaign. It has been launched and is
running on the east coast and internationally as we speak. That will continue
to make sure that doctors, nurses and allied health staff realise what a great
opportunity there is for them to work in this terrific state, in a great health
system.
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