❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding the one-year funding rollover for Silverchain's Hospital in Home service, citing concerns about staffing and planning. The Minister defends the decision, highlighting Silverchain's existing workforce and the service's role in broader healthcare strategies.
AnsweredQoN 743Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITAL IN HOME SERVICE
743. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Hospital in Home
service provided by Silverchain, which focuses on minimising hospital
utilisation and providing patients with alternatives for managing their health
journey. Can the minister confirm that funding for this incredibly important
service has been simply rolled over for one year; and, if yes, why was that decision
made because it makes it difficult for Silverchain to employ appropriate staff
and plan for future service provision?
743. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Hospital in Home
service provided by Silverchain, which focuses on minimising hospital
utilisation and providing patients with alternatives for managing their health
journey. Can the minister confirm that funding for this incredibly important
service has been simply rolled over for one year; and, if yes, why was that decision
made because it makes it difficult for Silverchain to employ appropriate staff
and plan for future service provision?
AnswerView source ↗
Silverchain already has an existing
workforce and the Hospital in Home contract makes up 15 per cent of its entire
contract, so I am not sure it is an appropriate extrapolation to say that it
cannot employ people or does not have certainty.
We are working with the hospital system internally on how we can improve access
to care for people who require care
in the home but do not necessarily need to take up a hospital bed. It is
completely appropriate that we do that. It is part of our emergency access
program. It is part of how we work through some of the challenges and blockages
in our system of people—long-stay patients, for example—who are
in hospital beds who can access care.
Silverchain is a highly regarded
organisation. It is enormously valued in our community. My family has used
Silverchain and certainly availed themselves of its services. The government is
looking at what are the best possible options to keep people out of hospital.
Hospital in Home is absolutely a part of that, but we need to make sure that we
have the right settings in place.
workforce and the Hospital in Home contract makes up 15 per cent of its entire
contract, so I am not sure it is an appropriate extrapolation to say that it
cannot employ people or does not have certainty.
We are working with the hospital system internally on how we can improve access
to care for people who require care
in the home but do not necessarily need to take up a hospital bed. It is
completely appropriate that we do that. It is part of our emergency access
program. It is part of how we work through some of the challenges and blockages
in our system of people—long-stay patients, for example—who are
in hospital beds who can access care.
Silverchain is a highly regarded
organisation. It is enormously valued in our community. My family has used
Silverchain and certainly availed themselves of its services. The government is
looking at what are the best possible options to keep people out of hospital.
Hospital in Home is absolutely a part of that, but we need to make sure that we
have the right settings in place.
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