❓ A parliamentary question regarding concerns that patients are being removed from elective surgery waiting lists in WA due to a new prioritisation strategy, potentially to improve statistics before an election. The Minister responds by highlighting the success of initiatives in reducing waiting times.
AnsweredQoN 741Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to letters such as the one I am holding up which are being sent by the Department of Health to patients who are stuck on the elective surgery waiting list and which announce a new strategy to prioritise surgery for waitlist patients. (1) Is the minister aware that under this so-called new strategy, patients in severe pain will be totally struck off the waiting list if they do not fill in a form by a set date, cannot attend hospital for surgery on a set date and do not want to be transferred to another hospital? (2) Will the minister concede that he is now forcing people off waiting lists in an attempt to make the numbers look better in the lead-up to the election? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
(1) Is the minister aware that under this so-called new strategy, patients in severe pain will be totally struck off the waiting list if they do not fill in a form by a set date, cannot attend hospital for surgery on a set date and do not want to be transferred to another hospital? (2) Will the minister concede that he is now forcing people off waiting lists in an attempt to make the numbers look better in the lead-up to the election? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
(2) Will the minister concede that he is now forcing people off waiting lists in an attempt to make the numbers look better in the lead-up to the election? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
(1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
(1) Is the minister aware that under this so-called new strategy, patients in severe pain will be totally struck off the waiting list if they do not fill in a form by a set date, cannot attend hospital for surgery on a set date and do not want to be transferred to another hospital? (2) Will the minister concede that he is now forcing people off waiting lists in an attempt to make the numbers look better in the lead-up to the election? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
(2) Will the minister concede that he is now forcing people off waiting lists in an attempt to make the numbers look better in the lead-up to the election? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for the question. (1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
(1)-(2) I advise the House that during 2004 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Western Australia. We are experiencing an all-time low in the number of people waiting for elective surgery in the State. We have also driven down the time that people are waiting for their surgery. One of the great initiatives we have taken as a means of achieving that is what we refer to as the ambulatory day surgery initiative, which is being driven particularly from Osborne Park Hospital and Armadale-Kelmscott Memorial Hospital. It is being done with the knowledge and concurrence of the Commonwealth. We can offer people their elective surgery at an earlier time. For instance, people with cataracts can be offered surgery as soon as they want it. We can also tell them that, if they are prepared to have their surgery conducted under this new initiative, their waiting time will be minimal and they can have it conducted at a time that suits them. That is the process we are engaged in. For the first half of this year the Government committed $10 million to address the elective surgery waiting list issue in Western Australia. That has been tremendously successful in reducing the number of people on the list, particularly those who have been waiting longer than clinically desirable for their surgery. The Government then announced a further $12 million for the current financial year; that is, well into next year. It is to provide for the ambulatory surgery initiative, which is for people who need day procedures. Many of the procedures are not the things that are on the official waitlist. I am referring to procedures such as colonoscopies. People have waited far too long for a colonoscopy. We have established this procedure so people who are waiting can have it done quickly. That is of the essence when it comes to colonoscopies. Endoscopy procedures are also included. Hundreds of Western Australians who would otherwise be faced with a significant wait are now getting their procedures done more expeditiously as a result of the efficiencies we are introducing. If people need surgery, we need to be told. If people want it done quickly, they should tell us because we will be able to facilitate it for them. If the Liberal Party wants to talk about this in this place in the face of record reductions in the number of people on the waitlist and the time they wait, and then complain about someone being offered surgery at a different hospital from the one previously indicated, it does not have much to complain about.
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