❓ Mr. L'Estrange questions the Premier about closed hospital beds amidst ambulance ramping and flu season. The Premier acknowledges the seriousness of the flu outbreak and defends the health system's response, highlighting resource allocation challenges.
AnsweredQoN 494Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH
— HOSPITAL BEDS
494. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
Let me liven it up for the Minister
for Transport!
In an answer to a question on notice
received on 13 June from the Minister for Health, it was revealed that more
than 280 hospital beds across the health system were available for use, but
were closed. Will the Premier direct the Minister for Health to immediately
open those beds given record ambulance ramping, emergency department wait time
blow-outs and the chronic flu season?
— HOSPITAL BEDS
494. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
Let me liven it up for the Minister
for Transport!
In an answer to a question on notice
received on 13 June from the Minister for Health, it was revealed that more
than 280 hospital beds across the health system were available for use, but
were closed. Will the Premier direct the Minister for Health to immediately
open those beds given record ambulance ramping, emergency department wait time
blow-outs and the chronic flu season?
AnswerView source ↗
What
has occurred in Western Australia with the influenza outbreak is a very serious
matter. Twenty-nine people have lost their lives to this matter over the course
of 2019. It needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness and not
politicised.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, wait for the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Twenty-nine
people have lost their lives; it does not deserve politicisation. Department of
Health staff and hospital staff are doing their utmost to deal with a very
serious situation. I am advised that just 15 per cent of people who present
with influenza need to be admitted to hospital. Most are dealt with in
emergency departments—they are triaged, treated and discharged home. On
occasion, a bed might be available in one part of the state that obviously is
not available to someone living in another part of the state, and that is the
reason that some beds are empty compared with some other areas. I just want to
repeat that I visited a hospital yesterday morning with the Minister for
Health. I met with some of the staff who have been dealing with this situation.
People only have to walk around the streets and listen to know that a very
serious matter is going on before us. The relevant staff across the state are
dealing with this as best they can.
has occurred in Western Australia with the influenza outbreak is a very serious
matter. Twenty-nine people have lost their lives to this matter over the course
of 2019. It needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness and not
politicised.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, wait for the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Twenty-nine
people have lost their lives; it does not deserve politicisation. Department of
Health staff and hospital staff are doing their utmost to deal with a very
serious situation. I am advised that just 15 per cent of people who present
with influenza need to be admitted to hospital. Most are dealt with in
emergency departments—they are triaged, treated and discharged home. On
occasion, a bed might be available in one part of the state that obviously is
not available to someone living in another part of the state, and that is the
reason that some beds are empty compared with some other areas. I just want to
repeat that I visited a hospital yesterday morning with the Minister for
Health. I met with some of the staff who have been dealing with this situation.
People only have to walk around the streets and listen to know that a very
serious matter is going on before us. The relevant staff across the state are
dealing with this as best they can.
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