❓ Mr. Blayney asks about the benefits of the emergency telehealth service for country people, following its Premier's Award. The Minister details the service's success in reducing patient travel, enabling on-site treatment, and providing expert advice to regional hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 882Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMERGENCY TELEHEALTH SERVICE
882. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the
Minister for Health:
I understand that the emergency telehealth service was the
winner of an award at last week's Premier's Awards. Can the
minister please advise how this service will improve the health of country
people?
882. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the
Minister for Health:
I understand that the emergency telehealth service was the
winner of an award at last week's Premier's Awards. Can the
minister please advise how this service will improve the health of country
people?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Now to find the answer!
I thought there was another question to go.
The telehealth service has been amazingly successful. As part
of royalties for regions funding for the Southern Inland Health Initiative, we
have started rolling out telehealth not only in that region in particular, but
also across the state. We are getting emergency telehealth into a large number
of regions. Fifty small hospitals now have telehealth services. Telehealth
allows people to have a direct linkage to major hospitals and to get immediate
expert advice on managing patients, especially when there is an emergency. We
have seen some incredible successes whereby relatively inexperienced and junior
staff at these centres have been able to do lifesaving procedures directed by
the specialist in Perth. In a 12�month period, it has saved about one million
kilometres of patient travel and 72 per cent of patients have been seen and
treated on-site without needing to get specialist treatment in Perth. About 10 000
patients have now been examined using the telehealth service. It is very
important for not only the member for Geraldton's area in particular,
but also all of Western Australia that we continue this process and expand that
service. I anticipate that telehealth services will continue to grow throughout
the whole of Western Australia so that patients can get not only immediate
care, but also ongoing management rather than having to drive all the way to
the city.
I thought there was another question to go.
The telehealth service has been amazingly successful. As part
of royalties for regions funding for the Southern Inland Health Initiative, we
have started rolling out telehealth not only in that region in particular, but
also across the state. We are getting emergency telehealth into a large number
of regions. Fifty small hospitals now have telehealth services. Telehealth
allows people to have a direct linkage to major hospitals and to get immediate
expert advice on managing patients, especially when there is an emergency. We
have seen some incredible successes whereby relatively inexperienced and junior
staff at these centres have been able to do lifesaving procedures directed by
the specialist in Perth. In a 12�month period, it has saved about one million
kilometres of patient travel and 72 per cent of patients have been seen and
treated on-site without needing to get specialist treatment in Perth. About 10 000
patients have now been examined using the telehealth service. It is very
important for not only the member for Geraldton's area in particular,
but also all of Western Australia that we continue this process and expand that
service. I anticipate that telehealth services will continue to grow throughout
the whole of Western Australia so that patients can get not only immediate
care, but also ongoing management rather than having to drive all the way to
the city.
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