❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health about increased ambulance ramping and the decision to cut funding for the GP after-hours clinic at Royal Perth Hospital. The Minister defends the decision, citing increased availability of suburban GP clinics and prioritisation of state-funded healthcare areas.
AnsweredQoN 548Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AMBULANCE RAMPING
548. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the minister's record levels of ambulance ramping—more
than we have ever had before—why did he do things such as cutting the
funding for the GP after-hours clinic at Royal Perth Hospital? I remind the
minister that at Royal Perth Hospital we had more than 20 hours of ramping
yesterday alone. Why is the minister not putting things in place to alleviate
the problem?
548. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the minister's record levels of ambulance ramping—more
than we have ever had before—why did he do things such as cutting the
funding for the GP after-hours clinic at Royal Perth Hospital? I remind the
minister that at Royal Perth Hospital we had more than 20 hours of ramping
yesterday alone. Why is the minister not putting things in place to alleviate
the problem?
AnswerView source ↗
As I said, in the meetings
I have had, I have asked all the health services and the health department to
put more effort into reducing the amount of ramping and increase the access to
emergency departments. In relation to after-hours GP clinics, the advice that
was provided was that an increased number of GP clinics are available after
hours in suburban areas now, and that has been demonstrated. I know that in the
east metropolitan area a couple of new practices have opened in recent times
because I see the advertising for them, and that is also the case in other
parts of the metropolitan area. Given that GP clinics are primarily the
responsibility, in relation to public funding, of the commonwealth government,
the advice was that it was a better use of the state's resources for
those funds to be used in the areas of health care that the state has primary
responsibility for.
I have had, I have asked all the health services and the health department to
put more effort into reducing the amount of ramping and increase the access to
emergency departments. In relation to after-hours GP clinics, the advice that
was provided was that an increased number of GP clinics are available after
hours in suburban areas now, and that has been demonstrated. I know that in the
east metropolitan area a couple of new practices have opened in recent times
because I see the advertising for them, and that is also the case in other
parts of the metropolitan area. Given that GP clinics are primarily the
responsibility, in relation to public funding, of the commonwealth government,
the advice was that it was a better use of the state's resources for
those funds to be used in the areas of health care that the state has primary
responsibility for.
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