❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Health regarding the impact of the Fremantle Hospital ED closure on patient transfers, ambulance wait times, and associated costs. The response provides data on patient transfers, cost coverage, and protocols for patients arranging their own transport.
AnsweredQoN 258Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE
HOSPITAL — EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
258. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Fremantle Hospital emergency department.
(1) Since the
Fremantle ED closed at 7.00 am on 3 February 2015 to date, how many patients in
total requiring emergency treatment have presented to Fremantle ED and needed
to be transferred to other hospitals?
(2) Since 7.00
am on 3 February 2015 to date, what is the longest time an ambulance transfer
has taken from being requested at Fremantle Hospital to the patient arriving at
Fiona Stanley Hospital ED?
(3) Has the
Department of Health covered the cost of any ambulance transfers to other
hospitals for patients who presented to Fremantle ED since 3 February 2015, or
are these patients being billed by St John Ambulance for these transfers?
(4) What
protocols are in place, if any, to check that emergency patients presenting to
Fremantle ED who indicate they will arrange their own transport actually get to
Fiona Stanley Hospital emergency department?
HOSPITAL — EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
258. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Fremantle Hospital emergency department.
(1) Since the
Fremantle ED closed at 7.00 am on 3 February 2015 to date, how many patients in
total requiring emergency treatment have presented to Fremantle ED and needed
to be transferred to other hospitals?
(2) Since 7.00
am on 3 February 2015 to date, what is the longest time an ambulance transfer
has taken from being requested at Fremantle Hospital to the patient arriving at
Fiona Stanley Hospital ED?
(3) Has the
Department of Health covered the cost of any ambulance transfers to other
hospitals for patients who presented to Fremantle ED since 3 February 2015, or
are these patients being billed by St John Ambulance for these transfers?
(4) What
protocols are in place, if any, to check that emergency patients presenting to
Fremantle ED who indicate they will arrange their own transport actually get to
Fiona Stanley Hospital emergency department?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The
following information has been provided to me by the Minister for Health.
(1) Seven patients have been transferred in that time.
(2) Fremantle
Hospital has not recorded the transit times associated with ambulance transfers
from Fremantle Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital. St John Ambulance records
this data.
(3) Yes, the
Department of Health has covered the cost of all ambulance transfers from
Fremantle Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital.
(4) A member
of the public is provided with a recommendation by a senior registered nurse as
to an appropriate course of follow-up medical treatment that should be
followed, if any. A verbal agreement or acknowledgement of their understanding
of the medical advice given is obtained by the senior registered nurse.
following information has been provided to me by the Minister for Health.
(1) Seven patients have been transferred in that time.
(2) Fremantle
Hospital has not recorded the transit times associated with ambulance transfers
from Fremantle Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital. St John Ambulance records
this data.
(3) Yes, the
Department of Health has covered the cost of all ambulance transfers from
Fremantle Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital.
(4) A member
of the public is provided with a recommendation by a senior registered nurse as
to an appropriate course of follow-up medical treatment that should be
followed, if any. A verbal agreement or acknowledgement of their understanding
of the medical advice given is obtained by the senior registered nurse.
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