❓ The WA government outlines plans to meet future paediatric bed demand, highlighting current capacity, planned infrastructure projects, and strategic plans for service delivery. They also discuss options for increasing capacity at Perth Children's Hospital and other metropolitan hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 1321Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Perth Children's Hospital and I understand that there will be 400 dedicated paediatric beds in the system with the completion of the new children’s hospital. Given that modelling says that 399 paediatric beds will be required by 2021 (as stated by the Minister), I ask: (a) what plans are being made to adequately meet demand in 2021 and beyond; (b) what capacity will there be to increase beds at Perth Children’s Hospital in 2021; and (c) what are the range of options available to increase beds in 2021 when paediatric services are again under pressure?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2013
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
(a) The projected bed requirement of 399 paediatric beds in 2021 has been modelled based on occupancy rates of 80% for the Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) and 75% for metropolitan general hospital paediatric units. It assumes that paediatric units are currently experiencing this level of occupancy. It should be noted that none of the paediatric units reach this level of occupancy (on average). Average occupancy rates in 2011/12 for the general hospital paediatric units varied between 35 to 72% and for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) the average occupancy was 78%. Therefore there is currently extra capacity in the system than what has been modelled for the projected demand.
Additional beds are planned to open in 2015/16 through infrastructure projects including Midland Public Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and the PCH.
The Paediatric Implementation Plan (PIP) 2010-2020 is the strategic plan that outlines recommendations for the reconfiguration of paediatric services including inpatient and non-inpatient services across WA.
The PIP aims to meet projected demand through increasing the service capability of general hospitals to improve their capacity to deliver care for secondary level patients residing in their catchment areas.
Between now and 2021, projected demand will be reforecast based on new population data. In addition, the Clinical Services Framework 2015-25 is due to be released next year.
Based on a system wide review, taking into consideration the proposed hospital role delineations, decisions will be made about where to appropriately locate additional beds in the future.
(b) There are several options with regard to increasing capacity at the Perth Children's hospital, all of which have been carefully considered.
The current design of PCH allows for an additional four floors to be added to the central core in the future, if they are required.
Depending on future geographical based bed demand requirements in Perth, the Government at that time may decide it more appropriate to build a second children's hospital in the southern or northern growth corridors, as has occurred in Melbourne.
If King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) moves to the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site, the 30-bed neonatal ward at the PCH will transition across to KEMH creating a further 24 paediatric beds at the PCH.
(c) As part of the broader reform strategy, there is a shift towards providing care closer to home when clinically appropriate and within suitable care settings. Contemporary paediatric service delivery models involve integrating inpatient, outpatient, same day, ambulatory and community health care.
There will be opportunities to expand paediatric beds at the metropolitan general hospitals in the future if required.
The projected demand for secondary level paediatric beds currently exceeds the demand for tertiary level paediatric beds in Western Australia.
Additional beds are planned to open in 2015/16 through infrastructure projects including Midland Public Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and the PCH.
The Paediatric Implementation Plan (PIP) 2010-2020 is the strategic plan that outlines recommendations for the reconfiguration of paediatric services including inpatient and non-inpatient services across WA.
The PIP aims to meet projected demand through increasing the service capability of general hospitals to improve their capacity to deliver care for secondary level patients residing in their catchment areas.
Between now and 2021, projected demand will be reforecast based on new population data. In addition, the Clinical Services Framework 2015-25 is due to be released next year.
Based on a system wide review, taking into consideration the proposed hospital role delineations, decisions will be made about where to appropriately locate additional beds in the future.
(b) There are several options with regard to increasing capacity at the Perth Children's hospital, all of which have been carefully considered.
The current design of PCH allows for an additional four floors to be added to the central core in the future, if they are required.
Depending on future geographical based bed demand requirements in Perth, the Government at that time may decide it more appropriate to build a second children's hospital in the southern or northern growth corridors, as has occurred in Melbourne.
If King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) moves to the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site, the 30-bed neonatal ward at the PCH will transition across to KEMH creating a further 24 paediatric beds at the PCH.
(c) As part of the broader reform strategy, there is a shift towards providing care closer to home when clinically appropriate and within suitable care settings. Contemporary paediatric service delivery models involve integrating inpatient, outpatient, same day, ambulatory and community health care.
There will be opportunities to expand paediatric beds at the metropolitan general hospitals in the future if required.
The projected demand for secondary level paediatric beds currently exceeds the demand for tertiary level paediatric beds in Western Australia.
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