❓ Hon Jim Chown raises concerns about non-emergency patients overwhelming hospital emergency departments and asks if the government will launch an advertising campaign to educate the public on alternative healthcare options. The government responds that information is already available online and will be further promoted through digital platforms.
AnsweredQoN 590Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS —
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
590. Hon JIM CHOWN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
Fiona Stanley Hospital emergency
department received 380 patients on Tuesday and 337 yesterday. The vast
majority were not emergencies and should have been dealt with by a general
practitioner. This situation is being repeated in public hospitals throughout
the metropolitan area. Public hospitals have winter bed strategies in place and
the government also needs to put in place a winter health strategy.
(1) Does the
government plan to start an advertising campaign to inform the public about
making appropriate decisions on visiting emergency departments versus their
local doctor on a variety of health issues?
(2) If not, why
not?
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
590. Hon JIM CHOWN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
Fiona Stanley Hospital emergency
department received 380 patients on Tuesday and 337 yesterday. The vast
majority were not emergencies and should have been dealt with by a general
practitioner. This situation is being repeated in public hospitals throughout
the metropolitan area. Public hospitals have winter bed strategies in place and
the government also needs to put in place a winter health strategy.
(1) Does the
government plan to start an advertising campaign to inform the public about
making appropriate decisions on visiting emergency departments versus their
local doctor on a variety of health issues?
(2) If not, why
not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Health currently has information on its consumer website
regarding alternative options to emergency department presentations. Information
is on the Healthy WA homepage and a dedicated page on alternatives to emergency
departments. I table a copy of the homepage enumerating a number of healthcare
options.
[See paper 2751.]
The Department of Health will further
promote this information through targeted digital and social platforms to encourage people to seek alternative
healthcare options to help ease pressure on our emergency departments.
The frequency and type of advertising will be determined according to the
situation within our emergency departments.
(2) Not applicable.
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Health currently has information on its consumer website
regarding alternative options to emergency department presentations. Information
is on the Healthy WA homepage and a dedicated page on alternatives to emergency
departments. I table a copy of the homepage enumerating a number of healthcare
options.
[See paper 2751.]
The Department of Health will further
promote this information through targeted digital and social platforms to encourage people to seek alternative
healthcare options to help ease pressure on our emergency departments.
The frequency and type of advertising will be determined according to the
situation within our emergency departments.
(2) Not applicable.
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