❓ Mr. Hughes asks about the government's plan for urgent care clinics to relieve pressure on emergency departments. The Minister outlines the plan to enhance primary care networks and digitally refer patients with non-life-threatening conditions, while criticising the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 680Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS — URGENT CARE CLINICS
680. Mr M. HUGHES to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to relieving pressure on Western Australia's
emergency departments by delivering more than 130 urgent care clinics across
the state. Can the minister outline to the house how these urgent care clinics
will operate, including how they will provide more options for patients with
non-life-threatening medical conditions?
680. Mr M. HUGHES to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to relieving pressure on Western Australia's
emergency departments by delivering more than 130 urgent care clinics across
the state. Can the minister outline to the house how these urgent care clinics
will operate, including how they will provide more options for patients with
non-life-threatening medical conditions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalamunda for
the question. As the member knows, we often discuss issues associated with his
local hospital. I am very pleased to answer his question, which goes to the
point that last week the Premier and I foreshadowed the release of the details
of the urgent care clinic policy. As members will be aware, the sustainable
health review identified that each year about 190 000 patients attend emergency
departments who could potentially be better treated in an enhanced primary care
environment. That is why at election time we made a commitment to initiate the
urgent care clinic policy, which is about seizing the potential of our primary
care networks right across the state to provide a better form of urgent care to
those patients who have an urgent need to receive medical attention, but who do
not need a fully-fledged facility like an emergency department. We know that
this will provide better care for those patients because through a digitally
enhanced capacity those patients will be
referred to a range of appointments that are made available through the primary
general practitioner network , the urgent care clinic network across the
state. The important aspect of this is that it will alleviate a lot of the
existing pressure on emergency departments currently. The government is not
only providing better care for those patients, but also improving the capacity
of the emergency departments.
The last government did nothing
about emergency departments.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Has everyone on
my left finished? Thank you. We will get on with the answer.
Mr R.H. COOK : In fact, what
did the previous Minister for Health say? He said, ''I give up.''
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first time. Minister for Corrective Services,
I call you for the first time—that was you.
Mr
R.H. COOK : There is always more
to be done, but we have a plan to make sure that our emergency departments have the capacity to treat patients who knock on their door.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, ask a question if you want an answer.
Mr R.H. COOK : This is a very
unique program. It required a partnership between the Royal Australian College
of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association and the Australian
College for Emergency Medicine. No-one has ever before brought those warring
parties together in this way to bring better care to patients. The McGowan
government stands for putting patients first.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse,
was that a point of order?
Mr R.H. COOK : We will
continue to ensure that we meet our election commitments, provide better care
to patients and overcome the legacy left to us by the previous mob and the way
it managed EDs.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the second time.
the question. As the member knows, we often discuss issues associated with his
local hospital. I am very pleased to answer his question, which goes to the
point that last week the Premier and I foreshadowed the release of the details
of the urgent care clinic policy. As members will be aware, the sustainable
health review identified that each year about 190 000 patients attend emergency
departments who could potentially be better treated in an enhanced primary care
environment. That is why at election time we made a commitment to initiate the
urgent care clinic policy, which is about seizing the potential of our primary
care networks right across the state to provide a better form of urgent care to
those patients who have an urgent need to receive medical attention, but who do
not need a fully-fledged facility like an emergency department. We know that
this will provide better care for those patients because through a digitally
enhanced capacity those patients will be
referred to a range of appointments that are made available through the primary
general practitioner network , the urgent care clinic network across the
state. The important aspect of this is that it will alleviate a lot of the
existing pressure on emergency departments currently. The government is not
only providing better care for those patients, but also improving the capacity
of the emergency departments.
The last government did nothing
about emergency departments.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Has everyone on
my left finished? Thank you. We will get on with the answer.
Mr R.H. COOK : In fact, what
did the previous Minister for Health say? He said, ''I give up.''
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the first time. Minister for Corrective Services,
I call you for the first time—that was you.
Mr
R.H. COOK : There is always more
to be done, but we have a plan to make sure that our emergency departments have the capacity to treat patients who knock on their door.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, ask a question if you want an answer.
Mr R.H. COOK : This is a very
unique program. It required a partnership between the Royal Australian College
of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association and the Australian
College for Emergency Medicine. No-one has ever before brought those warring
parties together in this way to bring better care to patients. The McGowan
government stands for putting patients first.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Vasse,
was that a point of order?
Mr R.H. COOK : We will
continue to ensure that we meet our election commitments, provide better care
to patients and overcome the legacy left to us by the previous mob and the way
it managed EDs.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville, I call you to order for the second time.
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