❓ Hon. Darren West questions the Minister for Health regarding the WA Country Health Service budget deficit, savings targets, and potential staff reductions. The Minister acknowledges a deficit and outlines strategies for mitigation, including service redesign and staffing reviews.
AnsweredQoN 1345Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WA COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICE
1345. Hon DARREN WEST to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the WA Country Health
Service budget.
(1) Can the Minister for Health
confirm the estimated budget deficit for 2015–16?
(2) What is the target for identified
savings?
(3) What is the number of staff the
government will be reducing to meet these savings targets?
(4) What is the
reduction in full-time equivalent staff at each of the hospitals in the WA
Country Health Service?
1345. Hon DARREN WEST to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the WA Country Health
Service budget.
(1) Can the Minister for Health
confirm the estimated budget deficit for 2015–16?
(2) What is the target for identified
savings?
(3) What is the number of staff the
government will be reducing to meet these savings targets?
(4) What is the
reduction in full-time equivalent staff at each of the hospitals in the WA
Country Health Service?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some
notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Health —
(1)–(4) As
at 31 October 2015, WA Country Health Service is forecasting a net
cost-of-service deficit of approximately $23 million. This cost will be
mitigated with a focus on redesigning services to become more effective and
efficient, and by raising additional revenue. Service redesign includes
assessing such things as overtime, recall and rostering practices, which all
contribute to a higher full-time equivalent and have an impact on a service's
budget.
Current FTE levels are slightly
higher than is required to deliver activity levels in some specific services.
WA Country Health Service is currently reviewing its staffing levels and
options in some specific service streams to establish full-time equivalent
levels to meet the activity-based funding parameters. This will require some
slight reduction of staff to occur progressively at some hospital sites.
Unique regional costs are also
contributing to the forecast deficit, particularly in staff housing, utilities,
regional staff allowances and locum cost premiums.
secretary representing the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some
notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Health —
(1)–(4) As
at 31 October 2015, WA Country Health Service is forecasting a net
cost-of-service deficit of approximately $23 million. This cost will be
mitigated with a focus on redesigning services to become more effective and
efficient, and by raising additional revenue. Service redesign includes
assessing such things as overtime, recall and rostering practices, which all
contribute to a higher full-time equivalent and have an impact on a service's
budget.
Current FTE levels are slightly
higher than is required to deliver activity levels in some specific services.
WA Country Health Service is currently reviewing its staffing levels and
options in some specific service streams to establish full-time equivalent
levels to meet the activity-based funding parameters. This will require some
slight reduction of staff to occur progressively at some hospital sites.
Unique regional costs are also
contributing to the forecast deficit, particularly in staff housing, utilities,
regional staff allowances and locum cost premiums.
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