❓ Hon. Louise Kingston questions the Minister for Health regarding the centralisation of health services in WA, impacting regional communities and their access to hands-on care.
AnsweredQoN 1076Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WA COUNTRY HEALTH
SERVICE — SERVICES
1076. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
As stated on the Australian Human
Rights Commission website, human rights recognise the inherent value of each
person, regardless of background, where we live, what we look like, what we
think or what we believe. Receiving timely and accessible health care is a fundamental
right for every Australian regardless of where they live. Regional Western Australia
accounts for just 20 per cent of the total population of the state but
contributes nearly 50 per cent of the gross domestic product to the state. More
and more health services are being centralised to metropolitan locations with
the expectation that regional communities will access services via telehealth,
which is staffed by clinicians and staff with little understanding of regional
issues.
Is
any consideration given to the fact that health care requires a level of
hands-on care and that regional communities , which are already
disadvantaged by the tyranny of distance, are becoming even more disadvantaged
due to more and more health services not being available locally?
The PRESIDENT : Before I give
the call to the parliamentary secretary, I refer the honourable member to
standing order 105 regarding questions being concise.
SERVICE — SERVICES
1076. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
As stated on the Australian Human
Rights Commission website, human rights recognise the inherent value of each
person, regardless of background, where we live, what we look like, what we
think or what we believe. Receiving timely and accessible health care is a fundamental
right for every Australian regardless of where they live. Regional Western Australia
accounts for just 20 per cent of the total population of the state but
contributes nearly 50 per cent of the gross domestic product to the state. More
and more health services are being centralised to metropolitan locations with
the expectation that regional communities will access services via telehealth,
which is staffed by clinicians and staff with little understanding of regional
issues.
Is
any consideration given to the fact that health care requires a level of
hands-on care and that regional communities , which are already
disadvantaged by the tyranny of distance, are becoming even more disadvantaged
due to more and more health services not being available locally?
The PRESIDENT : Before I give
the call to the parliamentary secretary, I refer the honourable member to
standing order 105 regarding questions being concise.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following has been provided by the Minister
for Health.
The
WA Country Health Service provides exceptional, patient-centred care that
stretches across 2.55 million square kilometres and services a population of over 530 000.
WACHS operates six large regional hospitals, 15 medium-sized district
hospitals and 51 small hospitals. It has 42 health centres and nursing posts,
four dedicated mental health inpatient units and 24 dedicated mental health
services. During the financial year 2023–24, WACHS cared for
approximately 558 000 people, supported over 469 000 emergency department
presentations and enabled the safe arrival
of over 4 000 babies. Complementing on-the-ground services, the WACHS command
centre provides regional health sites with 24/7 access to virtual
support, integrating emergency and speciality services to bring care closer to
home for those living in country WA and to support frontline staff.
some notice of the question. The following has been provided by the Minister
for Health.
The
WA Country Health Service provides exceptional, patient-centred care that
stretches across 2.55 million square kilometres and services a population of over 530 000.
WACHS operates six large regional hospitals, 15 medium-sized district
hospitals and 51 small hospitals. It has 42 health centres and nursing posts,
four dedicated mental health inpatient units and 24 dedicated mental health
services. During the financial year 2023–24, WACHS cared for
approximately 558 000 people, supported over 469 000 emergency department
presentations and enabled the safe arrival
of over 4 000 babies. Complementing on-the-ground services, the WACHS command
centre provides regional health sites with 24/7 access to virtual
support, integrating emergency and speciality services to bring care closer to
home for those living in country WA and to support frontline staff.
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