❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Health regarding changes to after-hours palliative care services in the Bunbury region, specifically concerning the availability and communication of telephone support. The Minister responds, clarifying the services available and addressing concerns about a misleading letter.
AnsweredQoN 401Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WA COUNTRY
HEALTH SERVICE SOUTH WEST — COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CAREPALLIATIVE CARE
MODEL — SOUTH WEST REGION
401. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Minister for Health's answer to
questions without notice 314 and 347. I refer also to 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 and that they can contact the
Bunbury community palliative care telephone service on Mondays to Fridays from
8.00 am to 5.00 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.
(1) Is this
the telephone advice service that the Minister for Health stated in answer to
questions without notice 314 and 347 is available after hours?
(2) Is the
minister of the view that a telephone advice service provided during work hours
on weekdays, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings, is a suitable substitute for
an after-hours community palliative care service delivering services to the
patient in his or her home?
(3) Why were
patients not informed in the 9 February letter of the out-of-hours telephone
advice number for the Bunbury community palliative care service and instead
told to contact their after-hours GP service or healthdirect?
(4) What is
the out-of-hours telephone advice number for the Bunbury community palliative
care service, and how have patients and their carers been informed of the
number?
HEALTH SERVICE SOUTH WEST — COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CAREPALLIATIVE CARE
MODEL — SOUTH WEST REGION
401. Hon ADELE FARINA to the
minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Minister for Health's answer to
questions without notice 314 and 347. I refer also to 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 and that they can contact the
Bunbury community palliative care telephone service on Mondays to Fridays from
8.00 am to 5.00 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.
(1) Is this
the telephone advice service that the Minister for Health stated in answer to
questions without notice 314 and 347 is available after hours?
(2) Is the
minister of the view that a telephone advice service provided during work hours
on weekdays, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings, is a suitable substitute for
an after-hours community palliative care service delivering services to the
patient in his or her home?
(3) Why were
patients not informed in the 9 February letter of the out-of-hours telephone
advice number for the Bunbury community palliative care service and instead
told to contact their after-hours GP service or healthdirect?
(4) What is
the out-of-hours telephone advice number for the Bunbury community palliative
care service, and how have patients and their carers been informed of the
number?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) No.
(2) Terminal
patients requiring nursing care within their home have access to a 24/7
specialist nursing service. This has not changed. Non-terminal palliative care
patients have access to after-hours telephone support at their local hospital.
This is consistent with the model in place for the south west health region.
(3) The letter
dated 9 February 2016 was unauthorised and was sent prior to the
telephone/advice process being established.
(4) Palliative
care patients and their carers can telephone Bunbury Hospital on (08) 9722 1000.
Every patient and/or carer admitted to the greater Bunbury palliative care
service was personally contacted by the regional nurse director and informed of
the after-hours telephone number. Furthermore, I have requested, through the
Minister for Health's office, that the WA Country Health Service offer
a briefing to the member on the recent changes to this service.
Hon
Adele Farina : That
was not my question.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : I appreciate that, but I am still
offering it to you.
(1) No.
(2) Terminal
patients requiring nursing care within their home have access to a 24/7
specialist nursing service. This has not changed. Non-terminal palliative care
patients have access to after-hours telephone support at their local hospital.
This is consistent with the model in place for the south west health region.
(3) The letter
dated 9 February 2016 was unauthorised and was sent prior to the
telephone/advice process being established.
(4) Palliative
care patients and their carers can telephone Bunbury Hospital on (08) 9722 1000.
Every patient and/or carer admitted to the greater Bunbury palliative care
service was personally contacted by the regional nurse director and informed of
the after-hours telephone number. Furthermore, I have requested, through the
Minister for Health's office, that the WA Country Health Service offer
a briefing to the member on the recent changes to this service.
Hon
Adele Farina : That
was not my question.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : I appreciate that, but I am still
offering it to you.
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