❓ Mr. Quigley questions the Health Minister about addressing the decline in WA hospital beds since 2001. The Minister responds by outlining the Gallop Government's initiatives and the Reid Report's recommendations to increase bed numbers and improve the health system.
AnsweredQoN 112Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
An important indicator of the health of our public hospital system is the number of beds in our hospitals. Will the minister indicate what the Gallop Government has done since coming to office in 2001 to address the decline in the total number of hospital beds in Western Australia? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. The Reid report, which was tabled today, presents a unique opportunity for every Western Australian to contribute to the creation of a sustainable health system for the future. I have been very pleased by the support, albeit qualified, from, among others, the Australian Medical Association, the Opposition and most interest groups for the Health Reform Committee’s recommendations, which will be the model and plan for implementation for the future. The implementation of a north-south city model, the merger of Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a new 600-bed southern tertiary hospital, a significant upgrade of the general hospitals in Perth’s suburbs, the upgrading of rural and regional hospitals, the creation of a new tertiary hospital in the Joondalup area in the years ahead as well as the injection of $85 million into preventive and community health, especially in the area of mental health, have, broadly speaking, galvanised support in the community. The demand for hospital beds will be affected by four key recommendations of the Reid report; firstly, those related to preventive and community health, which will reduce the demand for hospital beds and, secondly, the shift in utilisation from tertiary to general hospitals, a population-based distribution of health resources, and enhanced rural and regional hospitals, all of which are expected to stem the demand for an increase in the number of hospital beds. One of the key factors of the report is to reverse the historical trend. In Western Australia over the past 15 years there has been a steady decline in the number of hospital beds. That has been stabilised, and the Reid recommendations will turn around that reduction in the number of hospital beds so that an increase in the number of hospital beds will be provided in the public hospital system in this State. For that reason, I wish to table a schedule setting out the number of beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area in 1990. The number at that time was 3 987. By the end of the 1990s, the number of beds had declined to 3 345, a loss of more than 600 beds from our public hospital system during the 1990s. I am pleased to say that by last year that number had risen to 3 427 and, with the inclusion of the additional winter beds for this year, that number has risen to 3 607. We have not only stopped the reduction in the number of beds that occurred under the previous Government but also turned it around, and the Reid report recommendations will further drive up the number of hospital beds available to members of the community. I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. The Reid report, which was tabled today, presents a unique opportunity for every Western Australian to contribute to the creation of a sustainable health system for the future. I have been very pleased by the support, albeit qualified, from, among others, the Australian Medical Association, the Opposition and most interest groups for the Health Reform Committee’s recommendations, which will be the model and plan for implementation for the future. The implementation of a north-south city model, the merger of Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a new 600-bed southern tertiary hospital, a significant upgrade of the general hospitals in Perth’s suburbs, the upgrading of rural and regional hospitals, the creation of a new tertiary hospital in the Joondalup area in the years ahead as well as the injection of $85 million into preventive and community health, especially in the area of mental health, have, broadly speaking, galvanised support in the community. The demand for hospital beds will be affected by four key recommendations of the Reid report; firstly, those related to preventive and community health, which will reduce the demand for hospital beds and, secondly, the shift in utilisation from tertiary to general hospitals, a population-based distribution of health resources, and enhanced rural and regional hospitals, all of which are expected to stem the demand for an increase in the number of hospital beds. One of the key factors of the report is to reverse the historical trend. In Western Australia over the past 15 years there has been a steady decline in the number of hospital beds. That has been stabilised, and the Reid recommendations will turn around that reduction in the number of hospital beds so that an increase in the number of hospital beds will be provided in the public hospital system in this State. For that reason, I wish to table a schedule setting out the number of beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area in 1990. The number at that time was 3 987. By the end of the 1990s, the number of beds had declined to 3 345, a loss of more than 600 beds from our public hospital system during the 1990s. I am pleased to say that by last year that number had risen to 3 427 and, with the inclusion of the additional winter beds for this year, that number has risen to 3 607. We have not only stopped the reduction in the number of beds that occurred under the previous Government but also turned it around, and the Reid report recommendations will further drive up the number of hospital beds available to members of the community. I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
I thank the member for the question. The Reid report, which was tabled today, presents a unique opportunity for every Western Australian to contribute to the creation of a sustainable health system for the future. I have been very pleased by the support, albeit qualified, from, among others, the Australian Medical Association, the Opposition and most interest groups for the Health Reform Committee’s recommendations, which will be the model and plan for implementation for the future. The implementation of a north-south city model, the merger of Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a new 600-bed southern tertiary hospital, a significant upgrade of the general hospitals in Perth’s suburbs, the upgrading of rural and regional hospitals, the creation of a new tertiary hospital in the Joondalup area in the years ahead as well as the injection of $85 million into preventive and community health, especially in the area of mental health, have, broadly speaking, galvanised support in the community. The demand for hospital beds will be affected by four key recommendations of the Reid report; firstly, those related to preventive and community health, which will reduce the demand for hospital beds and, secondly, the shift in utilisation from tertiary to general hospitals, a population-based distribution of health resources, and enhanced rural and regional hospitals, all of which are expected to stem the demand for an increase in the number of hospital beds. One of the key factors of the report is to reverse the historical trend. In Western Australia over the past 15 years there has been a steady decline in the number of hospital beds. That has been stabilised, and the Reid recommendations will turn around that reduction in the number of hospital beds so that an increase in the number of hospital beds will be provided in the public hospital system in this State. For that reason, I wish to table a schedule setting out the number of beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area in 1990. The number at that time was 3 987. By the end of the 1990s, the number of beds had declined to 3 345, a loss of more than 600 beds from our public hospital system during the 1990s. I am pleased to say that by last year that number had risen to 3 427 and, with the inclusion of the additional winter beds for this year, that number has risen to 3 607. We have not only stopped the reduction in the number of beds that occurred under the previous Government but also turned it around, and the Reid report recommendations will further drive up the number of hospital beds available to members of the community. I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
[See paper No 2233.]
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. The Reid report, which was tabled today, presents a unique opportunity for every Western Australian to contribute to the creation of a sustainable health system for the future. I have been very pleased by the support, albeit qualified, from, among others, the Australian Medical Association, the Opposition and most interest groups for the Health Reform Committee’s recommendations, which will be the model and plan for implementation for the future. The implementation of a north-south city model, the merger of Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a new 600-bed southern tertiary hospital, a significant upgrade of the general hospitals in Perth’s suburbs, the upgrading of rural and regional hospitals, the creation of a new tertiary hospital in the Joondalup area in the years ahead as well as the injection of $85 million into preventive and community health, especially in the area of mental health, have, broadly speaking, galvanised support in the community. The demand for hospital beds will be affected by four key recommendations of the Reid report; firstly, those related to preventive and community health, which will reduce the demand for hospital beds and, secondly, the shift in utilisation from tertiary to general hospitals, a population-based distribution of health resources, and enhanced rural and regional hospitals, all of which are expected to stem the demand for an increase in the number of hospital beds. One of the key factors of the report is to reverse the historical trend. In Western Australia over the past 15 years there has been a steady decline in the number of hospital beds. That has been stabilised, and the Reid recommendations will turn around that reduction in the number of hospital beds so that an increase in the number of hospital beds will be provided in the public hospital system in this State. For that reason, I wish to table a schedule setting out the number of beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area in 1990. The number at that time was 3 987. By the end of the 1990s, the number of beds had declined to 3 345, a loss of more than 600 beds from our public hospital system during the 1990s. I am pleased to say that by last year that number had risen to 3 427 and, with the inclusion of the additional winter beds for this year, that number has risen to 3 607. We have not only stopped the reduction in the number of beds that occurred under the previous Government but also turned it around, and the Reid report recommendations will further drive up the number of hospital beds available to members of the community. I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
I thank the member for the question. The Reid report, which was tabled today, presents a unique opportunity for every Western Australian to contribute to the creation of a sustainable health system for the future. I have been very pleased by the support, albeit qualified, from, among others, the Australian Medical Association, the Opposition and most interest groups for the Health Reform Committee’s recommendations, which will be the model and plan for implementation for the future. The implementation of a north-south city model, the merger of Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a new 600-bed southern tertiary hospital, a significant upgrade of the general hospitals in Perth’s suburbs, the upgrading of rural and regional hospitals, the creation of a new tertiary hospital in the Joondalup area in the years ahead as well as the injection of $85 million into preventive and community health, especially in the area of mental health, have, broadly speaking, galvanised support in the community. The demand for hospital beds will be affected by four key recommendations of the Reid report; firstly, those related to preventive and community health, which will reduce the demand for hospital beds and, secondly, the shift in utilisation from tertiary to general hospitals, a population-based distribution of health resources, and enhanced rural and regional hospitals, all of which are expected to stem the demand for an increase in the number of hospital beds. One of the key factors of the report is to reverse the historical trend. In Western Australia over the past 15 years there has been a steady decline in the number of hospital beds. That has been stabilised, and the Reid recommendations will turn around that reduction in the number of hospital beds so that an increase in the number of hospital beds will be provided in the public hospital system in this State. For that reason, I wish to table a schedule setting out the number of beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area in 1990. The number at that time was 3 987. By the end of the 1990s, the number of beds had declined to 3 345, a loss of more than 600 beds from our public hospital system during the 1990s. I am pleased to say that by last year that number had risen to 3 427 and, with the inclusion of the additional winter beds for this year, that number has risen to 3 607. We have not only stopped the reduction in the number of beds that occurred under the previous Government but also turned it around, and the Reid report recommendations will further drive up the number of hospital beds available to members of the community. I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
I table the schedule. [See paper No 2233.]
[See paper No 2233.]
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.