❓ Hon Charles Smith questions the government's plan to address hospital overcrowding and bed capacity issues, given funding cuts and population growth. The government's response deflects the issue of overcrowding and highlights positive performance indicators.
AnsweredQoN 58Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS — BED
CAPACITY
58. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the recent media article ''Hospital
overcrowding a matter of life and death''. How does the state government
intend to remedy this dire situation—that is, the lowest number of beds
per capita in the country—when it is reducing real health funding in
per capita terms and is further crush-loading our hospitals through rapid,
immigration-fuelled population growth?
CAPACITY
58. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the recent media article ''Hospital
overcrowding a matter of life and death''. How does the state government
intend to remedy this dire situation—that is, the lowest number of beds
per capita in the country—when it is reducing real health funding in
per capita terms and is further crush-loading our hospitals through rapid,
immigration-fuelled population growth?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. There is no official definition of ''hospital
overcrowding''. Demand management strategies are actively pursued to
ensure appropriate standards of safety and quality are maintained in our
hospitals. The WA public health system provides world-class care. It continues
to lead the nation in key indicators, including emergency department waiting
times and elective surgery.
some notice of the question. There is no official definition of ''hospital
overcrowding''. Demand management strategies are actively pursued to
ensure appropriate standards of safety and quality are maintained in our
hospitals. The WA public health system provides world-class care. It continues
to lead the nation in key indicators, including emergency department waiting
times and elective surgery.
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