❓ Question regarding the reduction of after-hours palliative care services in the Bunbury region, specifically concerning the impact on patients and the communication of changes. The Minister's response attempts to clarify the changes and align them with regional models.
AnsweredQoN 388Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WA COUNTRY
HEALTH SERVICE SOUTH WEST — COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CAREPALLIATIVE CARE
MODEL — SOUTH WEST REGION
388. Hon ADELE FARINA to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
answers to questions without notice 314 and 347, and a letter dated 9 February
2016 from the South West Palliative Care Service to its patients informing them
that as of 8 February 2016 the Bunbury Community Palliative Care Service will
no longer provide an after-hours service.
(1) How many
patients of the Bunbury Community Palliative Care Service previously receiving
after-hours home services had those services cut on 8 February 2016?
(2) Does the minister now concede
this after-hours home palliative care service has been cut?
(3) Does the
minister agree that patients of the Bunbury Community Palliative Care Service
have lost a health service or an important part of that service, being the
after-hours service, that is provided to the Perth metropolitan area?
(4) Is it the
minister's view that informing patients of the axing of a vital service
at least one day, possibly longer allowing for Australia Post, after the
service has been cut is reasonable?
(5) The same
letter goes on to inform patients that if they require support out of office
hours, they should contact their after-hours general practitioner service. I ask
the minister how many GPs in the Bunbury area provide an after-hours service?
HEALTH SERVICE SOUTH WEST — COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CAREPALLIATIVE CARE
MODEL — SOUTH WEST REGION
388. Hon ADELE FARINA to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
answers to questions without notice 314 and 347, and a letter dated 9 February
2016 from the South West Palliative Care Service to its patients informing them
that as of 8 February 2016 the Bunbury Community Palliative Care Service will
no longer provide an after-hours service.
(1) How many
patients of the Bunbury Community Palliative Care Service previously receiving
after-hours home services had those services cut on 8 February 2016?
(2) Does the minister now concede
this after-hours home palliative care service has been cut?
(3) Does the
minister agree that patients of the Bunbury Community Palliative Care Service
have lost a health service or an important part of that service, being the
after-hours service, that is provided to the Perth metropolitan area?
(4) Is it the
minister's view that informing patients of the axing of a vital service
at least one day, possibly longer allowing for Australia Post, after the
service has been cut is reasonable?
(5) The same
letter goes on to inform patients that if they require support out of office
hours, they should contact their after-hours general practitioner service. I ask
the minister how many GPs in the Bunbury area provide an after-hours service?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1) There was no
change to service for existing terminal patients within the Greater Bunbury
Community Palliative Care Service who required a nurse on call for nursing
attendance in their home out of hours.
Hon Adele Farina interjected.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : Just listen to the answer.
(2) The
after-hours telephone support for Greater Bunbury Community Palliative Care
non-terminal patients has been redirected to Bunbury Hospital from 5 April
2016. This is in line with the south west model for community palliative care
patients to call their local hospital after hours.
Hon
Adele Farina : I think you
are answering the wrong question.
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER : Is it C433?
This is the answer that I have.
Between 8 February and 5 April 2016,
patients were advised via unauthorised communication to contact their general
practitioner or healthdirect and/or attend the local hospital.
(3) Perth
metropolitan services are provided by Silver Chain through a contract
arrangement. This involves in-home service for terminal patients and
after-hours telephone support for non-terminal patients. This is consistent
with the model in place for the south west health region.
(4) The letter to
GPs notifying changes to the Greater Bunbury Community Palliative Care
after-hours support was unauthorised and was sent to the GPs prior to any
consultation process. The letter was retracted once its existence became known.
(5) The
unauthorised letter advised that after-hours patients were to contact their GP
or healthdirect or to attend their local hospital. The WA primary health care
network advises that the majority of GP practices within the greater Bunbury
area have an on-call after-hours service. After-hours GP, healthdirect and the
local hospital are current after-hours models for palliative care support in WA
country areas.
of this question.
(1) There was no
change to service for existing terminal patients within the Greater Bunbury
Community Palliative Care Service who required a nurse on call for nursing
attendance in their home out of hours.
Hon Adele Farina interjected.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : Just listen to the answer.
(2) The
after-hours telephone support for Greater Bunbury Community Palliative Care
non-terminal patients has been redirected to Bunbury Hospital from 5 April
2016. This is in line with the south west model for community palliative care
patients to call their local hospital after hours.
Hon
Adele Farina : I think you
are answering the wrong question.
Hon
DONNA FARAGHER : Is it C433?
This is the answer that I have.
Between 8 February and 5 April 2016,
patients were advised via unauthorised communication to contact their general
practitioner or healthdirect and/or attend the local hospital.
(3) Perth
metropolitan services are provided by Silver Chain through a contract
arrangement. This involves in-home service for terminal patients and
after-hours telephone support for non-terminal patients. This is consistent
with the model in place for the south west health region.
(4) The letter to
GPs notifying changes to the Greater Bunbury Community Palliative Care
after-hours support was unauthorised and was sent to the GPs prior to any
consultation process. The letter was retracted once its existence became known.
(5) The
unauthorised letter advised that after-hours patients were to contact their GP
or healthdirect or to attend their local hospital. The WA primary health care
network advises that the majority of GP practices within the greater Bunbury
area have an on-call after-hours service. After-hours GP, healthdirect and the
local hospital are current after-hours models for palliative care support in WA
country areas.
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