❓ Mr Lilburne questions the Minister for Health on WA's support for aged care vaccination efforts in Duncraig, supplementing Commonwealth responsibilities. The Minister outlines WA's collaborative approach, providing PPE, RATs, and booster vaccinations.
AnsweredQoN 23Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — VACCINATION — AGED CARE
23. Mr P. LILBURNE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to WA's health
efforts to vaccinate aged-care residents in Amana Living, Duncraig, in my
electorate. Can the minister update the house on the steps the McGowan Labor
government is taking to supplement the role of the commonwealth government when
it comes to COVID-19 preparedness in aged care?
23. Mr P. LILBURNE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to WA's health
efforts to vaccinate aged-care residents in Amana Living, Duncraig, in my
electorate. Can the minister update the house on the steps the McGowan Labor
government is taking to supplement the role of the commonwealth government when
it comes to COVID-19 preparedness in aged care?
AnswerView source ↗
I build on the good work of my
predecessor in this portfolio in maintaining really strong relationships with
the aged-care sector. It is an incredibly important sector, and I thank the
member for Carine for his interest in this.
Our most vulnerable cohort is in
aged care. The government has been working closely, certainly with the major
providers, in ensuring they have everything they need to protect staff and
residents in the fight against COVID. Although aged care is very firmly a commonwealth
responsibility, I have made it clear that we will not squabble on the ground
when there is an outbreak, and that people can have access to state supplies of
personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests where and when they need
it should the commonwealth not be able to provide it. We have seen that when other
states and territories have had surges and the commonwealth has struggled to
get necessary supplies to them. We will stand side by side with the aged-care
sector.
The commonwealth has done two lots
of vaccination rounds through aged-care facilities, but it did miss a number of
residents for one reason or another; if someone was in hospital, in the shower,
or unable to visit the nurse who was giving the vaccinations at that time, then
they missed that slot. Working with our Vaccine Commander, Gary Dreibergs, we
are reaching into those aged-care facilities and offering to carry out
vaccinations of residents who need their third boost, and offering to do that
as soon as possible.
I want to thank, certainly, the sector for its leadership,
particularly the CEOs and peak bodies, as well as the Western Australia Primary
Health Alliance and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners,
which have shown great leadership in this
and sharing lessons from what occurred in the eastern states. The importance of
that primary healthcare network and arming those healthcare workers and
physicians with everything they need to tackle COVID will be better for the
health system overall and better for patients; it keeps them out of hospital.
We stand ready to support aged care. We will work closely with the aged-care
sector and we will support the commonwealth in our battle against
Omicron.
predecessor in this portfolio in maintaining really strong relationships with
the aged-care sector. It is an incredibly important sector, and I thank the
member for Carine for his interest in this.
Our most vulnerable cohort is in
aged care. The government has been working closely, certainly with the major
providers, in ensuring they have everything they need to protect staff and
residents in the fight against COVID. Although aged care is very firmly a commonwealth
responsibility, I have made it clear that we will not squabble on the ground
when there is an outbreak, and that people can have access to state supplies of
personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests where and when they need
it should the commonwealth not be able to provide it. We have seen that when other
states and territories have had surges and the commonwealth has struggled to
get necessary supplies to them. We will stand side by side with the aged-care
sector.
The commonwealth has done two lots
of vaccination rounds through aged-care facilities, but it did miss a number of
residents for one reason or another; if someone was in hospital, in the shower,
or unable to visit the nurse who was giving the vaccinations at that time, then
they missed that slot. Working with our Vaccine Commander, Gary Dreibergs, we
are reaching into those aged-care facilities and offering to carry out
vaccinations of residents who need their third boost, and offering to do that
as soon as possible.
I want to thank, certainly, the sector for its leadership,
particularly the CEOs and peak bodies, as well as the Western Australia Primary
Health Alliance and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners,
which have shown great leadership in this
and sharing lessons from what occurred in the eastern states. The importance of
that primary healthcare network and arming those healthcare workers and
physicians with everything they need to tackle COVID will be better for the
health system overall and better for patients; it keeps them out of hospital.
We stand ready to support aged care. We will work closely with the aged-care
sector and we will support the commonwealth in our battle against
Omicron.
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