❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice inquires about potential bed and nursing staff cuts at Busselton and Bunbury hospitals. The Minister responds, clarifying seasonal bed adjustments and future staffing based on workload benchmarks.
AnsweredQoN 1595Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Have, or will, bed numbers be cut at the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital? (2) If so, how many beds will be closed, when will they be closed and why? (3) How many beds will be left in use? (4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(2) If so, how many beds will be closed, when will they be closed and why? (3) How many beds will be left in use? (4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(3) How many beds will be left in use? (4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(6) No specific positions are targeted.
(2) If so, how many beds will be closed, when will they be closed and why? (3) How many beds will be left in use? (4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(3) How many beds will be left in use? (4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(4) Can the minister advise which nursing positions have been lost to the Busselton District Hospital and the Bunbury Regional Hospital in the past 12 months and why? (5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(5) Are there plans to cut the number of nursing staff at these hospitals even further? (6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(6) If so, what positions are being targeted, when will the cuts be made and why? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(1) No, other than customary seasonal adjustments. (2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(2) Due to the normal downturn in elective surgery at this time of the year, there will be a reduction of 15 medical beds and 15 surgical beds at Bunbury, in addition to eight day surgery beds at both Bunbury and Busselton. This will occur in the period between 19 December 2003 and 19 January 2004. Emergency services will not be affected during the holiday period. (3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(3) Forty-four beds at Busselton; 75 beds at Bunbury. (4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(4) No nursing positions have been lost at the Bunbury and Busselton hospitals in the past 12 months. (5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(5) Future nursing allocations will be in line with the nursing hours per patient day benchmarking measures for nursing workloads in wards and units. These benchmarks will apply consistent, safe staffing levels across all of the South West Area Health Service. (6) No specific positions are targeted.
(6) No specific positions are targeted.
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