❓ Dr. Nahan questions the Minister for Health regarding declining emergency department performance at Fiona Stanley Hospital. The Minister acknowledges pressure due to the winter flu season and highlights positive performance in other hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 680Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS —
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS — PERFORMANCE TARGETS
680. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Department of Health's
July 2018 Western Australian emergency access target performance report.
(1) Will the
minister confirm that the number of patients seen within the targeted level—that
is, within four hours— at the Fiona
Stanley Hospital's emergency department has declined from 73.2 per cent
in July 2017 to 61.9 per cent, or a drop of 11.3 per cent, over the last year?
(2) Will he also
confirm that the reduction in performance at this hospital, the state's
largest emergency hospital, was not due to attendance or demand as that grew
during that period by only one per cent?
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS — PERFORMANCE TARGETS
680. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Department of Health's
July 2018 Western Australian emergency access target performance report.
(1) Will the
minister confirm that the number of patients seen within the targeted level—that
is, within four hours— at the Fiona
Stanley Hospital's emergency department has declined from 73.2 per cent
in July 2017 to 61.9 per cent, or a drop of 11.3 per cent, over the last year?
(2) Will he also
confirm that the reduction in performance at this hospital, the state's
largest emergency hospital, was not due to attendance or demand as that grew
during that period by only one per cent?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) As I did last week, I can confirm that our
emergency departments are under pressure at the moment. They are having to deal
with the winter flu season and as a result of that, all emergency departments,
not just those in Western Australia, are struggling to deal with it. That is
the nature of August–September. It happens every year and there is
nothing unusual about that. What I can confirm is that the Department of Health
is working overtime to ensure we get to as many patients as possible . The statewide emergency access target for August
2018 was 73.4 per cent. We are looking at pretty much the same level in August 2017,
when it was about 74 per cent. As we can see, these are the same difficulties
we have year in, year out due to the winter flu season and the pressure that
puts us under.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Dr A.D. Buti : Be quiet,
boofhead.
Mr R.H. COOK : I can also
confirm —
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I believe I heard the member for Armadale refer to the
member for Carine as a boofhead. I ask him to withdraw.
Dr A.D.
BUTI : I withdraw.
Questions Without Notice Resumed
Mr R.H. COOK : I can confirm
that some hospitals are doing very well. The Peel Health Campus has had some
outstanding results over the last few months when it has increased its WAEAT
performance by over five per cent. Times are peaking over 70 per cent on a regular
basis. In particular—I note the interjection from the member for
Armadale—between August 2017 and August 2018, the Armadale–Kelmscott
Memorial Hospital figure has gone from a WAEAT performance figure of 70 per
cent to 75.7 per cent. As we can see, some hospitals are working overtime to
meet the needs of patients who come to our hospitals. As I have stressed, it is
because of the winter flu season that we are struggling at this point in time.
Our doctors and nurses working on the frontline, day in and day out, are doing
their level best. They are providing an exceptional service to the people of Western
Australia. I am proud of them and I am proud of the work they do. As I said
last week, there are just a few more weeks to go of the winter flu season and
then we will be over the hump for this year.
emergency departments are under pressure at the moment. They are having to deal
with the winter flu season and as a result of that, all emergency departments,
not just those in Western Australia, are struggling to deal with it. That is
the nature of August–September. It happens every year and there is
nothing unusual about that. What I can confirm is that the Department of Health
is working overtime to ensure we get to as many patients as possible . The statewide emergency access target for August
2018 was 73.4 per cent. We are looking at pretty much the same level in August 2017,
when it was about 74 per cent. As we can see, these are the same difficulties
we have year in, year out due to the winter flu season and the pressure that
puts us under.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Dr A.D. Buti : Be quiet,
boofhead.
Mr R.H. COOK : I can also
confirm —
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP : I believe I heard the member for Armadale refer to the
member for Carine as a boofhead. I ask him to withdraw.
Dr A.D.
BUTI : I withdraw.
Questions Without Notice Resumed
Mr R.H. COOK : I can confirm
that some hospitals are doing very well. The Peel Health Campus has had some
outstanding results over the last few months when it has increased its WAEAT
performance by over five per cent. Times are peaking over 70 per cent on a regular
basis. In particular—I note the interjection from the member for
Armadale—between August 2017 and August 2018, the Armadale–Kelmscott
Memorial Hospital figure has gone from a WAEAT performance figure of 70 per
cent to 75.7 per cent. As we can see, some hospitals are working overtime to
meet the needs of patients who come to our hospitals. As I have stressed, it is
because of the winter flu season that we are struggling at this point in time.
Our doctors and nurses working on the frontline, day in and day out, are doing
their level best. They are providing an exceptional service to the people of Western
Australia. I am proud of them and I am proud of the work they do. As I said
last week, there are just a few more weeks to go of the winter flu season and
then we will be over the hump for this year.
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