❓ Mr. Birney questions Premier Gallop about ambulance bypass hours at metropolitan hospitals, referencing a previous statement by the Premier defining such situations as a crisis. Premier Gallop avoids directly answering, questioning the accuracy of the figures and highlighting the government's investment and strategic plan for healthcare.
AnsweredQoN 742Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I remind the Premier of his statement during the 2001 state election that “when ambulances are forced to drive the streets of Perth to find an emergency ward that can accept patients, that is a crisis.” (1) Is the Premier aware that there were 1 728 hours of ambulance bypass at metropolitan hospitals between just January and September this year? (2) Using the Premier’s own definition, is the Department of Health in crisis? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
(1) Is the Premier aware that there were 1 728 hours of ambulance bypass at metropolitan hospitals between just January and September this year? (2) Using the Premier’s own definition, is the Department of Health in crisis? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
(2) Using the Premier’s own definition, is the Department of Health in crisis? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
(1) Is the Premier aware that there were 1 728 hours of ambulance bypass at metropolitan hospitals between just January and September this year? (2) Using the Premier’s own definition, is the Department of Health in crisis? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
(2) Using the Premier’s own definition, is the Department of Health in crisis? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
(1)-(2) I am not aware of the specific figures that relate to ambulance bypasses in our hospitals. As members know, whenever the opposition uses figures, I am very cautious about accepting them. The government has made a huge commitment to our health system. In the first place, we are committing funds. For the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is committed to providing the resources our health care system needs. It is interesting to note that when the Minister for Health spoke about this last week, he used figures that mean something to people. Those figures related to the number of people who are going through our health system and who are being treated on a daily basis for their various illnesses. Most importantly, we have a strategy for health care. That is a strategy for not only the metropolitan area but also the state of Western Australia. That strategy will create new efficiencies in the system and at the same time make sure that health services are provided where they are needed, which is near to where people live. I am not aware of the ambulance figures the Leader of the Opposition mentioned. However, I am aware of the financial commitment we are giving to health care and of the strategic plan we have for our health system, which is producing excellent results for people all over Western Australia.
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