❓ Ms Mettam questions the Minister for Health on emergency department wait times during wet winters, referencing the Minister's previous criticism of the practice. The Minister defends healthcare staff and highlights systemic pressures.
AnsweredQoN 379Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS —
WAIT TIMES
379. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
have a supplementary question. Wet winters happen every year. Given this
practice was ''completely unacceptable'' when the minister
was in opposition, how can she continue to support and defend this practice
now?
WAIT TIMES
379. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
have a supplementary question. Wet winters happen every year. Given this
practice was ''completely unacceptable'' when the minister
was in opposition, how can she continue to support and defend this practice
now?
AnswerView source ↗
I
support and defend the staff who triage and see the sickest patients,
particularly on very busy days. That is standard procedure. I support
and defend the staff who flex up and flex down and respond to really busy days.
It is true that every first wet winter day is incredibly busy. There is a spike
in activity. It is the same for the police as it is for health care. The
problem is that the Leader of the Liberal Party never actually listens to the
answers. I just outlined it incredibly thoroughly. This is a complex system and
we are seeing record reform and investment in both the staff and the way we
deliver care, but we are not an island. The system does not operate in a vacuum.
I would love to see the Leader of
the Liberal Party advocate for primary care. I would love to see her advocate
for more beds in aged care. Geraldton needs more aged-care beds. Bunbury needs
more aged-care beds. Albany needs more aged-care beds. They all put pressure
and create long-stay patients, which makes it challenging to bring other people
into hospital. But I will tell the Leader of the Liberal Party that I will
always defend the staff when they triage and see the sickest patients first.
support and defend the staff who triage and see the sickest patients,
particularly on very busy days. That is standard procedure. I support
and defend the staff who flex up and flex down and respond to really busy days.
It is true that every first wet winter day is incredibly busy. There is a spike
in activity. It is the same for the police as it is for health care. The
problem is that the Leader of the Liberal Party never actually listens to the
answers. I just outlined it incredibly thoroughly. This is a complex system and
we are seeing record reform and investment in both the staff and the way we
deliver care, but we are not an island. The system does not operate in a vacuum.
I would love to see the Leader of
the Liberal Party advocate for primary care. I would love to see her advocate
for more beds in aged care. Geraldton needs more aged-care beds. Bunbury needs
more aged-care beds. Albany needs more aged-care beds. They all put pressure
and create long-stay patients, which makes it challenging to bring other people
into hospital. But I will tell the Leader of the Liberal Party that I will
always defend the staff when they triage and see the sickest patients first.
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