❓ Mr Michel asks about the Cook Labor government's commitment to healthcare access, specifically regarding state-of-the-art services and improved support for children needing urgent paediatric care. The Minister responds by highlighting the success of WAVED and WAVEDkids in providing virtual emergency care, reducing hospital visits, and improving access for families in remote areas.
AnsweredQoN 663Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—WAVEDkids
663. Mr Kevin Michel to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring that Western Australian families can
access the health care they need when they need it. Can the minister update the
house on the role of state-of-the-art healthcare services and how these new
services will improve support for children and families who require urgent
paediatric care?
663. Mr Kevin Michel to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to ensuring that Western Australian families can
access the health care they need when they need it. Can the minister update the
house on the role of state-of-the-art healthcare services and how these new
services will improve support for children and families who require urgent
paediatric care?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for
his question and ongoing advocacy for his community. When it comes to
delivering accessible and responsive urgent care, the creation of the WA virtual
emergency department (WAVED) is a game changer. It means that patients or their
carers who are in need of help can contact Healthdirect to have their eligibility
assessed for a virtual consult. If they are eligible, they will be referred
through to a senior emergency doctor at WAVED for advice and treatment. Located
in our State Health Operations Centre, WAVED has now delivered more than 10,000
virtual consults since its launch. Around 70% of the patients who have been
attended to were able to remain at home while receiving appropriate care,
therefore avoiding the need to visit a hospital. WAVED has benefits for all
parts of the community, but I am particularly excited about what it means for
our kids.
Anyone who has cared
for a child will know firsthand how stressful it can be when they are unwell,
especially if you need to make a judgement call about how that child gets the
most appropriate treatment if they are very unwell and their condition is
deteriorating. That is why I was so proud this morning to have officially launched
our virtual ED service for children under 16 called WAVEDkids. I was joined
this morning by Dr Ian Dey to do that. WAVEDkids has been going through a trial
period for the last few months. I can report that the WAVED pathway to WAVEDkids
has had more than 500 consults, with 90% of patients avoiding an emergency
department. That has meant that a number of families have been able to get the
treatment they need, including a family with an 11-month-old baby living in
remote Western Australia who had a rapid onset of coughing and vomiting. That
child was seen, spoken to and assessed and treated by a senior emergency
paediatrician, all in the comfort of the family's own home, saving that family
what may have been a very long trip to the nearest physical emergency
department.
WAVED is
transforming how we deliver emergency care in Western Australia. It is safe,
efficient and patient-centred, and it is just one of the many ways this
government is ensuring that patients can access the health care they need when
they need it.
The Speaker: The member for Geraldton with the last
question.
his question and ongoing advocacy for his community. When it comes to
delivering accessible and responsive urgent care, the creation of the WA virtual
emergency department (WAVED) is a game changer. It means that patients or their
carers who are in need of help can contact Healthdirect to have their eligibility
assessed for a virtual consult. If they are eligible, they will be referred
through to a senior emergency doctor at WAVED for advice and treatment. Located
in our State Health Operations Centre, WAVED has now delivered more than 10,000
virtual consults since its launch. Around 70% of the patients who have been
attended to were able to remain at home while receiving appropriate care,
therefore avoiding the need to visit a hospital. WAVED has benefits for all
parts of the community, but I am particularly excited about what it means for
our kids.
Anyone who has cared
for a child will know firsthand how stressful it can be when they are unwell,
especially if you need to make a judgement call about how that child gets the
most appropriate treatment if they are very unwell and their condition is
deteriorating. That is why I was so proud this morning to have officially launched
our virtual ED service for children under 16 called WAVEDkids. I was joined
this morning by Dr Ian Dey to do that. WAVEDkids has been going through a trial
period for the last few months. I can report that the WAVED pathway to WAVEDkids
has had more than 500 consults, with 90% of patients avoiding an emergency
department. That has meant that a number of families have been able to get the
treatment they need, including a family with an 11-month-old baby living in
remote Western Australia who had a rapid onset of coughing and vomiting. That
child was seen, spoken to and assessed and treated by a senior emergency
paediatrician, all in the comfort of the family's own home, saving that family
what may have been a very long trip to the nearest physical emergency
department.
WAVED is
transforming how we deliver emergency care in Western Australia. It is safe,
efficient and patient-centred, and it is just one of the many ways this
government is ensuring that patients can access the health care they need when
they need it.
The Speaker: The member for Geraldton with the last
question.
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