❓ Mr. Cook questions planned staff reductions in WA hospitals given increased demand. Dr. Hames dismisses the concerns, citing WA's strong performance in wait times and ED efficiency, accusing Mr. Cook of misunderstanding the data.
AnsweredQoN 960Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH SERVICES DEMAND — STAFF
960. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to Department of Health reports that indicate that
there are almost 600 more patients waiting for surgery than was the case at
this time last year, there are 5 357 more presentations to emergency
departments than in 2014, and there are 1 323, or nine per cent, more new
outpatient appointments than was the case in 2014. Why is the minister about to
sack around 2 000 staff at our hospitals given the increases in demand and in
waitlists at WA hospitals?
960. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to Department of Health reports that indicate that
there are almost 600 more patients waiting for surgery than was the case at
this time last year, there are 5 357 more presentations to emergency
departments than in 2014, and there are 1 323, or nine per cent, more new
outpatient appointments than was the case in 2014. Why is the minister about to
sack around 2 000 staff at our hospitals given the increases in demand and in
waitlists at WA hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
I lament the fact that after all these years the shadow
minister does not understand the numbers and how they work within the health
system.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES : If
I had any hair left, I would pull it out. The member just does not understand;
I am going to have to get him a briefing so that he does understand. Let me
tell the member about waitlist numbers.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I was hoping that you would not keep on shouting. I call
you to order for the first time.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Mr
Speaker, I am not going to concentrate on the numbers, because the Leader of
the Opposition asked that; I am going to concentrate on the main part of the
member's question.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Can
I answer the main part of the member's question? Is the member going to
stop talking, so that I can do that? I am wasting my time, Mr Speaker. He
constantly interjects on a component of the question, and does not let me
answer the other part. Mr Speaker, he asked about waiting lists for surgery. I
have made it clear to him that it is not the numbers on the waitlist that are
important—that is not a reflection of what staff we need. What matters
is the wait time that they have for their surgery, and we are the second best
in Australia.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the second time.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We
are the second best in Australia. We have the second shortest waiting time for
surgery in the whole of Australia, and that is despite the fact that we have
just done a major configuration of our service. The second thing is emergency
department numbers. ED presentation numbers are irrelevant. The member should
go and talk to David Mountain; he will give it to the member chapter and verse.
The ED numbers rocking up at the front door are not relevant. What is important
is the complexity of the patients that come up—the national weighted
activity units, the severity of the condition of the patient that turns up at
the door, and how many admissions are needed. The activity that they are
getting is less than we budgeted for; it is a marginal increase on what they
saw last year. Instead of criticising the numbers, the member should be
congratulating us on being the second best in Australia in waitlist surgery and
having the best four-hour rule results in Australia. He should be
congratulating us, instead of criticising us!
minister does not understand the numbers and how they work within the health
system.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr K.D. HAMES : If
I had any hair left, I would pull it out. The member just does not understand;
I am going to have to get him a briefing so that he does understand. Let me
tell the member about waitlist numbers.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I was hoping that you would not keep on shouting. I call
you to order for the first time.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Mr
Speaker, I am not going to concentrate on the numbers, because the Leader of
the Opposition asked that; I am going to concentrate on the main part of the
member's question.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Can
I answer the main part of the member's question? Is the member going to
stop talking, so that I can do that? I am wasting my time, Mr Speaker. He
constantly interjects on a component of the question, and does not let me
answer the other part. Mr Speaker, he asked about waiting lists for surgery. I
have made it clear to him that it is not the numbers on the waitlist that are
important—that is not a reflection of what staff we need. What matters
is the wait time that they have for their surgery, and we are the second best
in Australia.
Mr R.H. Cook interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Kwinana, I call you to order for the second time.
Dr K.D. HAMES : We
are the second best in Australia. We have the second shortest waiting time for
surgery in the whole of Australia, and that is despite the fact that we have
just done a major configuration of our service. The second thing is emergency
department numbers. ED presentation numbers are irrelevant. The member should
go and talk to David Mountain; he will give it to the member chapter and verse.
The ED numbers rocking up at the front door are not relevant. What is important
is the complexity of the patients that come up—the national weighted
activity units, the severity of the condition of the patient that turns up at
the door, and how many admissions are needed. The activity that they are
getting is less than we budgeted for; it is a marginal increase on what they
saw last year. Instead of criticising the numbers, the member should be
congratulating us on being the second best in Australia in waitlist surgery and
having the best four-hour rule results in Australia. He should be
congratulating us, instead of criticising us!
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