❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Health regarding long wait times in WA emergency departments, citing a Productivity Commission report and a constituent's experience. The Minister's response is vague, referencing the Australasian Triage Scale and the skill of WA Health clinicians without providing specific data.
AnsweredQoN 218Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Emergency departments—Wait times
218. Hon Dr Brian Walker to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister
to the recent Productivity Commission report that suggested that WA has the
nation's worst wait times for urgent presentations to public hospital emergency
departments. I heard from one constituent who recently waited six hours in a
private ED here in Perth, at least in part because of an overflow from a neighbouring
public hospital.
(1) What is the clinically recommended timeframe
for a patient to be seen in a public ED here in WA?
(2) What percentage of patients presenting at our
public emergency departments are currently being seen within that timeframe?
(3) Does the government recognise the concerns
raised by a spokesperson for the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
WA, who has argued that patients are waiting much longer than the college would
consider safe and that the situation is both demoralising and poses risks?
218. Hon Dr Brian Walker to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister
to the recent Productivity Commission report that suggested that WA has the
nation's worst wait times for urgent presentations to public hospital emergency
departments. I heard from one constituent who recently waited six hours in a
private ED here in Perth, at least in part because of an overflow from a neighbouring
public hospital.
(1) What is the clinically recommended timeframe
for a patient to be seen in a public ED here in WA?
(2) What percentage of patients presenting at our
public emergency departments are currently being seen within that timeframe?
(3) Does the government recognise the concerns
raised by a spokesperson for the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
WA, who has argued that patients are waiting much longer than the college would
consider safe and that the situation is both demoralising and poses risks?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following has been
provided by the Minister for Health.
(1)–(3) Clinically recommended timeframes
for the commencement of medical treatment vary and are outlined in the
Australasian Triage Scale. WA Health aims to provide high-quality clinical care
to the community of Western Australia. WA Health clinicians are highly skilled
at ensuring patients receive the care they need urgently.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following has been
provided by the Minister for Health.
(1)–(3) Clinically recommended timeframes
for the commencement of medical treatment vary and are outlined in the
Australasian Triage Scale. WA Health aims to provide high-quality clinical care
to the community of Western Australia. WA Health clinicians are highly skilled
at ensuring patients receive the care they need urgently.
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