❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier regarding an increase in SAC 1 incidents and child deaths at Perth Children's Hospital, accusing him of insensitive comments. The Premier refutes the claims, provides revised data, and defends his government's investment in healthcare.
AnsweredQoN 718Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL —
CLINICAL INCIDENTS — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
718. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the number of severity assessment code 1 incidents
at Perth Children's Hospital increasing 200 per cent in 2022–23, resulting in the medical
errors and preventable deaths of six children—an increase from two
deaths last year. Does the Premier stand by his incredibly insensitive
comments and implied justification this morning that the death of six children
in 2022–23 due to clinical incidents was acceptable as it was the same
as two years ago?
CLINICAL INCIDENTS — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
718. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the number of severity assessment code 1 incidents
at Perth Children's Hospital increasing 200 per cent in 2022–23, resulting in the medical
errors and preventable deaths of six children—an increase from two
deaths last year. Does the Premier stand by his incredibly insensitive
comments and implied justification this morning that the death of six children
in 2022–23 due to clinical incidents was acceptable as it was the same
as two years ago?
AnswerView source ↗
I refer to the member for Vasse's statement to the
media of 11 October, today, which says —
WA Labor failing West
Australian kids with six preventable deaths in hospitals last year
Unfortunately, as per usual, that has a glaring indifference
to the actual facts of the situation. Six SAC 1 clinical incidents were
reported with an outcome of death. However, following investigation, three were
declassified, as no healthcare-related preventable factors were identified. I want
to put on the record the number of SAC 1 events with an outcome of death. In 2019–20, it was four; in 2020–21,
it was five; in 2021–22, it was two; and in 2022–23 , it
is three.
Any adverse outcome from care in a state medical facility is
regrettable. What is more regrettable is if that incident is not reported. To
paraphrase the president of the Australian Medical Association, Michael Page,
who spoke on radio today, what we need is a culture that encourages the
reporting of SAC 1 events, whether they are incidents that simply relate to an adverse health outcome or, regrettably and
tragically, cases that relate to the death of a patient . An important
part of our healthcare system is to make sure we report these, from the point
of view of not only accountability, but continued improvement—that is
something the health system is committed to—and making sure that we
learn from these incidents and continue to commit ourselves to improving health
care at all times.
One of the other issues the AMA president pointed to was that
what sometimes contributes to an adverse health outcome is when there are not enough staff or staff are working under
intense pressure. That is why I am very proud of our record that since
2017 we have 3 000 additional nurses and an extra 1 400 doctors and the health workforce
has grown by nearly 30 per cent. Let us contrast that with the performance of
the previous Liberal–National government when we saw a decrease of 645
nurses between July 2015 and July 2016; a decrease of 60 midwives between July 2015 and July 2016; a decrease of 131
doctors between September 2015 and July 2016; and a decrease of 70 paediatricians
between July 2015 and January 2017. That is why only a WA Labor government can
provide the resources and investments that our health services need to keep Western
Australians safe. That is the reason only a Labor
government will provide the investment, such as the extra $10 billion since
2017, to continue to provide the health service that Western Australians
need. Only a WA Labor government will invest in health and look after patients
and put Western Australian patients first.
media of 11 October, today, which says —
WA Labor failing West
Australian kids with six preventable deaths in hospitals last year
Unfortunately, as per usual, that has a glaring indifference
to the actual facts of the situation. Six SAC 1 clinical incidents were
reported with an outcome of death. However, following investigation, three were
declassified, as no healthcare-related preventable factors were identified. I want
to put on the record the number of SAC 1 events with an outcome of death. In 2019–20, it was four; in 2020–21,
it was five; in 2021–22, it was two; and in 2022–23 , it
is three.
Any adverse outcome from care in a state medical facility is
regrettable. What is more regrettable is if that incident is not reported. To
paraphrase the president of the Australian Medical Association, Michael Page,
who spoke on radio today, what we need is a culture that encourages the
reporting of SAC 1 events, whether they are incidents that simply relate to an adverse health outcome or, regrettably and
tragically, cases that relate to the death of a patient . An important
part of our healthcare system is to make sure we report these, from the point
of view of not only accountability, but continued improvement—that is
something the health system is committed to—and making sure that we
learn from these incidents and continue to commit ourselves to improving health
care at all times.
One of the other issues the AMA president pointed to was that
what sometimes contributes to an adverse health outcome is when there are not enough staff or staff are working under
intense pressure. That is why I am very proud of our record that since
2017 we have 3 000 additional nurses and an extra 1 400 doctors and the health workforce
has grown by nearly 30 per cent. Let us contrast that with the performance of
the previous Liberal–National government when we saw a decrease of 645
nurses between July 2015 and July 2016; a decrease of 60 midwives between July 2015 and July 2016; a decrease of 131
doctors between September 2015 and July 2016; and a decrease of 70 paediatricians
between July 2015 and January 2017. That is why only a WA Labor government can
provide the resources and investments that our health services need to keep Western
Australians safe. That is the reason only a Labor
government will provide the investment, such as the extra $10 billion since
2017, to continue to provide the health service that Western Australians
need. Only a WA Labor government will invest in health and look after patients
and put Western Australian patients first.
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