A WA parliamentary question seeks data on bariatric surgery waiting times, patient numbers, and expenditure in the public health system, revealing data limitations and highlighting concerns about obesity rates. The response only provides patient numbers from one specific service.

AnsweredQoN 2819Legislative Council
Asked
18 February 2020
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to a recent report that Western Australians
have the highest obesity rate in Australia, and I ask in respect of public
patients: (a) what is the average waiting time for a patient
referred to a Bariatric Surgeon for an initial consultation; (b) what is the average waiting time for a patient to
receive bariatric surgery from the time of initial consultation; (c) how many people are currently awaiting bariatric
surgery and for each what has been the duration of time from initial referral; (d) for each financial year from 2016-17 to present, how
many patients have accessed bariatric surgery; and (e) what has been the total expenditure for each financial
year from 2016-17 to present, on bariatric surgery procedures?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
31 March 2020
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
I am advised:
(a)-(c) Not available.
(d) For public patients that had bariatric surgery from the State Bariatric Service at Joondalup Health Campus, there were 281 patients in 2016-17, 286 patients in 2017-18, 277 patients in 2018-19 and 166 between 1 July 2019 and 31 January 2020 (2019-20 year to date).
(e) Not available.

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