❓ Mr. Castrilli questions the Minister for Health regarding the mismanagement of health services in the South West, citing a specific case where a patient's surgery was repeatedly cancelled. The Minister responds by detailing the reasons for each cancellation, attributing them to patient request, surgeon's decision, and emergency admissions.
AnsweredQoN 323Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the chronic mismanagement of health services in the south west. (1) How is it possible in a properly administered health system that a patient, Ian Atkinson, who was booked for an operation to have his gall bladder removed, had pre-anaesthetic checks done on three separate occasions, being 24 March, 7 April and 19 May, reported to the hospital for admission, yet was told on each occasion that no beds were available and was sent home? The operation finally took place on 16 June. (2) Will the minister immediately increase the number of staffed beds at the South West Health Campus to alleviate this health crisis? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
(1) How is it possible in a properly administered health system that a patient, Ian Atkinson, who was booked for an operation to have his gall bladder removed, had pre-anaesthetic checks done on three separate occasions, being 24 March, 7 April and 19 May, reported to the hospital for admission, yet was told on each occasion that no beds were available and was sent home? The operation finally took place on 16 June. (2) Will the minister immediately increase the number of staffed beds at the South West Health Campus to alleviate this health crisis? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
(2) Will the minister immediately increase the number of staffed beds at the South West Health Campus to alleviate this health crisis? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
(1) How is it possible in a properly administered health system that a patient, Ian Atkinson, who was booked for an operation to have his gall bladder removed, had pre-anaesthetic checks done on three separate occasions, being 24 March, 7 April and 19 May, reported to the hospital for admission, yet was told on each occasion that no beds were available and was sent home? The operation finally took place on 16 June. (2) Will the minister immediately increase the number of staffed beds at the South West Health Campus to alleviate this health crisis? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
(2) Will the minister immediately increase the number of staffed beds at the South West Health Campus to alleviate this health crisis? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for some notice of the question. The South West Area Health Service has advised that there was one occasion on which Mr Atkinson had his surgery cancelled on the day because of work pressure. I will come to deal with each of those issues. Hospital records reveal that the hospital was short of beds on 19 May 2005, and Mr Atkinson’s procedure was cancelled on that date. The shortage of beds was due to the number of emergency admissions overnight and no foreseen discharges on the morning of 19 May. On 7 April, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon advised that Mr Atkinson wished to cancel his surgery because he was having other medical treatment. It was done at the request of the patient. On 14 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon supplied his theatre list for 24 March and that list included Mr Atkinson. On 21 March, Mr Atkinson’s surgeon provided a revised theatre list for 24 March. The surgeon had removed Mr Atkinson from the original list. The hospital therefore did not book Mr Atkinson for surgery. Therefore, it appears that of the three occasions, one removal from the list was at the request of Mr Atkinson; one was at the request, well in advance, of Mr Atkinson’s surgeon; and on the final occasion his removal from the list was due to an unexpected number of emergency admissions and, therefore, pressure on the hospital. In those circumstances it is apparent that the Bunbury Regional Hospital has sufficient beds to deliver services to the south west.
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