❓ Ms Mettam requests detailed historical bed availability and access block data from WA public hospitals for the 2019-2020 financial year, referencing a previous question. The response indicates data limitations and methodological inconsistencies prevent providing the requested information.
AnsweredQoN 477Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer to Question 155, from then Health Minister Roger Cook, on 16 September 2021, and ask for the following data in line with that which was readily provided in the answer to Question 155. I further refer to all public hospitals, including public hospitals with private operators, and the availability of beds at those hospitals, and I ask : (a) for the North Metropolitan Health Service: (i) what was the average number of daily active beds for each month in the 2019-2020 financial year across each hospital ; (ii) what was the total bed capacity for the same time period as (a)(i) for each hospital; and (iii) how many days each month did each hospital experience access block of more than ten percent of beds within the emergency department; (b) for the South Metropolitan Health Service : (i) What was the average number of daily active beds for each month in the 2019-2020 financial year across each hospital; (ii) what was the total bed capacity for the same time period as (b)(i) for each hospital; and (iii) how many days each month did each hospital experience access block of more than ten percent of beds within the emergency department; (c) for the East Metropolitan Health Service: (i) What was the average number of daily active beds for each month in the 2019-2020 financial year across each hospital; (ii) what was the total bed capacity for the same time period as (b)(i) for each hospital; and (iii) how many days each month did each hospital experience access block of more than ten percent of beds within the emergency department; (d) for the Child and Adolescent Health Service: (i) What was the average number of daily active beds for each month in the 2019-2020 financial year across each hospital; (ii) what was the total bed capacity for the same time period as (b)(i) for each hospital; and (iii) how many days each month did each hospital experience access block of more than ten percent of beds within the emergency department; and (e) for the Western Australian Country Health Service: (i) What was the average number of daily active beds for each month in the 2019-2020 financial year across each hospital; (ii) what was the total bed capacity for the same time period as (b)(i) for each hospital; and; and (iii) how many days each month did each hospital experience access block of more than ten percent of beds within the emergency department?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
13 days
ANSWER:
(a) – (e) (i) In January 2024 the Department of Health established a beds data collection to provide more detailed reporting. Information prior to January 2024 is not available at the level of detail requested. The previous system, BedState, ceased to be used for central reporting of general beds as it was inconsistently maintained across sites and there were resultant concerns about the quality and reliability of data it contained.
The answer provided to LC QON 155 used individual HSP operational knowledge, however, owing to the complexity of producing bedcounts, HSPs may not have used identical methodology. Given the change in methodology, data prior to 2024 may not be comparable.
(a) – (e) (ii) Bed audits to determine bed inventory are not undertaken daily.
(a) – (e) (iii) Access block is not reported by the Department of Health. The Department ceased reporting access block in 2015/16.
(a) – (e) (i) In January 2024 the Department of Health established a beds data collection to provide more detailed reporting. Information prior to January 2024 is not available at the level of detail requested. The previous system, BedState, ceased to be used for central reporting of general beds as it was inconsistently maintained across sites and there were resultant concerns about the quality and reliability of data it contained.
The answer provided to LC QON 155 used individual HSP operational knowledge, however, owing to the complexity of producing bedcounts, HSPs may not have used identical methodology. Given the change in methodology, data prior to 2024 may not be comparable.
(a) – (e) (ii) Bed audits to determine bed inventory are not undertaken daily.
(a) – (e) (iii) Access block is not reported by the Department of Health. The Department ceased reporting access block in 2015/16.
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