❓ Question addresses WA Virtual Emergency Department's impact on ED demand and awareness of misinformation. The Minister's answer defends the initiative, criticizes the Leader of the Liberal Party's statements, and highlights support from various stakeholders.
AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN VIRTUAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
246. Mr G. BAKER to the Minister for Health:
I refer to measures implemented by the McGowan Labor government
in response to increased demand for Western Australia's emergency
departments.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these measures, particularly the Western Australian
virtual emergency department initiative, are addressing demand in the emergency
departments?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of anyone who is misleading the
community about these important initiatives?
246. Mr G. BAKER to the Minister for Health:
I refer to measures implemented by the McGowan Labor government
in response to increased demand for Western Australia's emergency
departments.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these measures, particularly the Western Australian
virtual emergency department initiative, are addressing demand in the emergency
departments?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of anyone who is misleading the
community about these important initiatives?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for South Perth for his question.
(1)–(2)
Yesterday, we saw the announcement around some innovative new models of care in
WA Health. We also saw the Leader of the
Liberal Party falling over herself to criticise this announcement of new,
innovative models of care and, in the
process, demonstrating more questionable conduct in how she actually approaches her role. In the morning, the Leader of the Liberal Party spoke on radio,
seemingly to support it, claiming we should
already have done it. By the afternoon, she had completely changed position,
attacking WAVED with a level of disinformation that is reckless and
dangerous.
In an opposition media release, the
Leader of the Liberal Party claimed that we were —
� attempting to shift the blame of WA's
ambulance ramping on to our sick, elderly Western Australians, and our
under-resourced aged-care workers,'' �
Even worse, she claims —
''Telling our elderly not to
call triple zero �
This is an actual quote. That is
dangerous misinformation. At no point has anyone ever said elderly people should not call 000—at no point. That is
the claim that the Leader of the Liberal Party has made, so let m e put a
few facts so that people, including the Leader of the Liberal Party,
understand.
For
medical emergencies, people should always call 000, and that will always be
there for them. I have said that, and I have never suggested otherwise.
When something is not an emergency, aged-care staff and residents will now have
the option of directly contacting a senior clinician to get advice on how to
access the best and most appropriate care. The alternatives are not to stay
put, as quoted. It is a direct admission to a ward or imaging, without actually
having to go to the emergency department, or access to a rapid outpatient
appointment.
Hours before the opposition put out
the media release, I actually outlined this to the chamber. I explained that
older adults are also much more at risk of experiencing harm from
hospital-acquired infections, falls and reduced muscle mass. This is about a better
experience for our older Western Australians. It is for exactly these reasons
that it is strongly supported by the aged-care sector, the Health Consumers'
Council of WA and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, which have
been deeply involved in the work of the ministerial task force into ramping and
are very supportive of this vision and this program.
Chris How, the CEO of aged-care
provider Bethanie, welcomed the new model on ABC radio and said it would
complement the existing services and allow for decisions based on residents'
need. Liz Behjat, someone familiar to the Liberal Party as a former Liberal
member in the other place and now the state manager of the aged-care peak body
Aged and Community Care Providers Association —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms A. SANDERSON : Liz Behjat
explained it was actually a result of collaboration between the state
government and the sector. Clare Mullen from the Health Consumers'
Council has been actively involved in doing this work and putting it together.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member, you did
not ask this question. Your interjections are incessant, and I am asking you to
stop. We do not need any cheering from the member for Landsdale, thank you.
Ms A. SANDERSON : Clare
Mullen from the Health Consumers' Council has been involved in the development
of this program, and there is no greater champion of health consumers than the
Health Consumers' Council. There was general support from the consumers
who have been surveyed about this pilot in east metro. The average score of
service satisfaction rating was 4.6 out of five from consumers, carers and
aged-care staff.
These results show why the models
of care were developed by clinicians in the first place. Despite this, the
Leader of the Liberal Party still continues to sow doubt and fear by claiming
that we are telling people not to call 000. Again, she has failed to avail
herself of the facts, ignoring my answer. It is shameless, inexcusable and
reckless. It is dangerous to put out
misinformation about people's lives because this is health care and
people's lives are actually at stake. I expect the Leader of the
Liberal Party to correct her statement immediately. My office is available to
provide further details, and we are happy to engage constructively.
(1)–(2)
Yesterday, we saw the announcement around some innovative new models of care in
WA Health. We also saw the Leader of the
Liberal Party falling over herself to criticise this announcement of new,
innovative models of care and, in the
process, demonstrating more questionable conduct in how she actually approaches her role. In the morning, the Leader of the Liberal Party spoke on radio,
seemingly to support it, claiming we should
already have done it. By the afternoon, she had completely changed position,
attacking WAVED with a level of disinformation that is reckless and
dangerous.
In an opposition media release, the
Leader of the Liberal Party claimed that we were —
� attempting to shift the blame of WA's
ambulance ramping on to our sick, elderly Western Australians, and our
under-resourced aged-care workers,'' �
Even worse, she claims —
''Telling our elderly not to
call triple zero �
This is an actual quote. That is
dangerous misinformation. At no point has anyone ever said elderly people should not call 000—at no point. That is
the claim that the Leader of the Liberal Party has made, so let m e put a
few facts so that people, including the Leader of the Liberal Party,
understand.
For
medical emergencies, people should always call 000, and that will always be
there for them. I have said that, and I have never suggested otherwise.
When something is not an emergency, aged-care staff and residents will now have
the option of directly contacting a senior clinician to get advice on how to
access the best and most appropriate care. The alternatives are not to stay
put, as quoted. It is a direct admission to a ward or imaging, without actually
having to go to the emergency department, or access to a rapid outpatient
appointment.
Hours before the opposition put out
the media release, I actually outlined this to the chamber. I explained that
older adults are also much more at risk of experiencing harm from
hospital-acquired infections, falls and reduced muscle mass. This is about a better
experience for our older Western Australians. It is for exactly these reasons
that it is strongly supported by the aged-care sector, the Health Consumers'
Council of WA and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, which have
been deeply involved in the work of the ministerial task force into ramping and
are very supportive of this vision and this program.
Chris How, the CEO of aged-care
provider Bethanie, welcomed the new model on ABC radio and said it would
complement the existing services and allow for decisions based on residents'
need. Liz Behjat, someone familiar to the Liberal Party as a former Liberal
member in the other place and now the state manager of the aged-care peak body
Aged and Community Care Providers Association —
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
Ms A. SANDERSON : Liz Behjat
explained it was actually a result of collaboration between the state
government and the sector. Clare Mullen from the Health Consumers'
Council has been actively involved in doing this work and putting it together.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member, you did
not ask this question. Your interjections are incessant, and I am asking you to
stop. We do not need any cheering from the member for Landsdale, thank you.
Ms A. SANDERSON : Clare
Mullen from the Health Consumers' Council has been involved in the development
of this program, and there is no greater champion of health consumers than the
Health Consumers' Council. There was general support from the consumers
who have been surveyed about this pilot in east metro. The average score of
service satisfaction rating was 4.6 out of five from consumers, carers and
aged-care staff.
These results show why the models
of care were developed by clinicians in the first place. Despite this, the
Leader of the Liberal Party still continues to sow doubt and fear by claiming
that we are telling people not to call 000. Again, she has failed to avail
herself of the facts, ignoring my answer. It is shameless, inexcusable and
reckless. It is dangerous to put out
misinformation about people's lives because this is health care and
people's lives are actually at stake. I expect the Leader of the
Liberal Party to correct her statement immediately. My office is available to
provide further details, and we are happy to engage constructively.
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