❓ Mrs O'Malley asks about the government's plans to increase accessible and affordable healthcare and reduce demand on public hospitals. The Minister responds by highlighting investments in healthcare, staffing increases, and initiatives like the virtual emergency department and GP programs.
AnsweredQoN 34Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Health—Affordable health care
34. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to the Minister for Health :
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's efforts to ensure that Western Australians live in the
healthiest state in the nation.
(1)
Can the minister advise the house how this government is increasing accessible
and affordable healthcare options for Western Australians?
(2)
Can the minister advise the house how these initiatives will reduce
demand-facing public hospitals across the state?
34. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to the Minister for Health :
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's efforts to ensure that Western Australians live in the
healthiest state in the nation.
(1)
Can the minister advise the house how this government is increasing accessible
and affordable healthcare options for Western Australians?
(2)
Can the minister advise the house how these initiatives will reduce
demand-facing public hospitals across the state?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for the question. Of course, I am very happy to talk about
the work that we are doing. Overwhelmingly, our plan for delivering health care
for Western Australians was endorsed by the Western Australian public at the
election. That is because they know it is always Labor governments that deliver
world-class health care. We have had a proud record in our delivery in health. We
have made a record investment in health since 2021, with $14.3 billion of
additional funding. We have also delivered 800 more beds and there are hundreds
more in the pipeline that will soon be coming online. We have also delivered a
30% increase in staffing—4,400 additional nurses and 1,800 additional
doctors—in that same time period since 2021. We are delivering a range
of initiatives, as I have already outlined to the house, to help address
ambulance ramping.
We know there
is much more that we can do, and that is why we have made a range of
commitments to do more. We want to drive reform further to address ambulance
ramping. We want to deliver better access to health care as well, particularly
closer to people's homes where they live, and we also want to deliver better
outcomes for regional patients. That is why we have made a commitment to expand
the emergency departments at Royal Perth Hospital and Midland Health Campus. We
will deliver more beds in our systems through doing this.
We are also
expanding the WA virtual emergency department. That program is already up and
running and has delivered care to hundreds of patients in the comfort of their
own homes, diverting them from needing to go to emergency departments when that
is not always the best outcome for the patient. We have also made a commitment
that will deliver better access to care for young people who have ADHD so that they
will be able to attend their general practitioners to get a diagnosis and a
prescription for medication to manage ADHD. We are also going to deliver the "GP
ASK" program, where people can visit their GP and in real time get access
to specialists, saving patients time and money. We are also concerned about
regional healthcare and that is why I am really proud that we are increasing
the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme fuel subsidy to 40c per litre, making it the
highest in the nation. We are also going to deliver paid paramedics in
Dawesville, delivering improved services for them.
We have been
working on a comprehensive plan. We know there is more to do. We made a number
of commitments to the people of Western Australia at the last election. It has
been endorsed by the people of Western Australia and I am really looking
forward to getting on with the job of delivering those initiatives.
I thank the member for the question. Of course, I am very happy to talk about
the work that we are doing. Overwhelmingly, our plan for delivering health care
for Western Australians was endorsed by the Western Australian public at the
election. That is because they know it is always Labor governments that deliver
world-class health care. We have had a proud record in our delivery in health. We
have made a record investment in health since 2021, with $14.3 billion of
additional funding. We have also delivered 800 more beds and there are hundreds
more in the pipeline that will soon be coming online. We have also delivered a
30% increase in staffing—4,400 additional nurses and 1,800 additional
doctors—in that same time period since 2021. We are delivering a range
of initiatives, as I have already outlined to the house, to help address
ambulance ramping.
We know there
is much more that we can do, and that is why we have made a range of
commitments to do more. We want to drive reform further to address ambulance
ramping. We want to deliver better access to health care as well, particularly
closer to people's homes where they live, and we also want to deliver better
outcomes for regional patients. That is why we have made a commitment to expand
the emergency departments at Royal Perth Hospital and Midland Health Campus. We
will deliver more beds in our systems through doing this.
We are also
expanding the WA virtual emergency department. That program is already up and
running and has delivered care to hundreds of patients in the comfort of their
own homes, diverting them from needing to go to emergency departments when that
is not always the best outcome for the patient. We have also made a commitment
that will deliver better access to care for young people who have ADHD so that they
will be able to attend their general practitioners to get a diagnosis and a
prescription for medication to manage ADHD. We are also going to deliver the "GP
ASK" program, where people can visit their GP and in real time get access
to specialists, saving patients time and money. We are also concerned about
regional healthcare and that is why I am really proud that we are increasing
the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme fuel subsidy to 40c per litre, making it the
highest in the nation. We are also going to deliver paid paramedics in
Dawesville, delivering improved services for them.
We have been
working on a comprehensive plan. We know there is more to do. We made a number
of commitments to the people of Western Australia at the last election. It has
been endorsed by the people of Western Australia and I am really looking
forward to getting on with the job of delivering those initiatives.
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