❓ A parliamentary question regarding dementia care in Western Australia, specifically focusing on bed availability, waiting times, and funding for facilities in Esperance. The response clarifies bed allocation practices and funding responsibilities.
AnsweredQoN 1215Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEMENTIA CARE
1215. HON STEPHEN DAWSON to the parliamentary secretary representing
the Minister for Health:
I refer to dementia care in WA.
(1) How many beds are set aside for dementia care in this
state?
(2) Where are these beds located?
(3) Can the
minister advise the average waiting time for a bed placement for Western
Australians living with dementia and the average bed occupancy rate for each of
the past five years?
(4) Are any
places currently available for dementia patients in Esperance; and, if not,
where will residents in Esperance be placed should they need hospital care for
dementia?
(5) Has the
state government written to the federal government about funding for a
much-needed extension to the Esperance Aged Care Facility?
1215. HON STEPHEN DAWSON to the parliamentary secretary representing
the Minister for Health:
I refer to dementia care in WA.
(1) How many beds are set aside for dementia care in this
state?
(2) Where are these beds located?
(3) Can the
minister advise the average waiting time for a bed placement for Western
Australians living with dementia and the average bed occupancy rate for each of
the past five years?
(4) Are any
places currently available for dementia patients in Esperance; and, if not,
where will residents in Esperance be placed should they need hospital care for
dementia?
(5) Has the
state government written to the federal government about funding for a
much-needed extension to the Esperance Aged Care Facility?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some
notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Health.
(1) Hospital beds
for dementia care are flexible, with wards being allocated as appropriate.
Although hospitals may have dementia care programs, patients with dementia may
be located in a variety of wards; for example, a dementia patient with a
fractured neck of femur would likely be located in the orthopaedic ward.
(2) Hospital
beds are located in the wards most appropriate to the care of the patient,
taking account of the main reason for admission as well as underlying or
comorbidity conditions.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Esperance
has a commonwealth-funded residential aged-care facility with 84 beds,
including 20 dementia-specific beds. This facility is managed by a community
board that is independent of WA Health. If a hospital bed is not available,
patients are transferred to an appropriate hospital in Perth or Kalgoorlie in
consultation with their local general practitioner.
(5) The state
government has not written to the federal government about the Esperance Aged
Care Facility as the allocation of additional funds is dictated by the federal
government, based on a rigorous contestable process.
notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me by
the Minister for Health.
(1) Hospital beds
for dementia care are flexible, with wards being allocated as appropriate.
Although hospitals may have dementia care programs, patients with dementia may
be located in a variety of wards; for example, a dementia patient with a
fractured neck of femur would likely be located in the orthopaedic ward.
(2) Hospital
beds are located in the wards most appropriate to the care of the patient,
taking account of the main reason for admission as well as underlying or
comorbidity conditions.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Esperance
has a commonwealth-funded residential aged-care facility with 84 beds,
including 20 dementia-specific beds. This facility is managed by a community
board that is independent of WA Health. If a hospital bed is not available,
patients are transferred to an appropriate hospital in Perth or Kalgoorlie in
consultation with their local general practitioner.
(5) The state
government has not written to the federal government about the Esperance Aged
Care Facility as the allocation of additional funds is dictated by the federal
government, based on a rigorous contestable process.
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