❓ Mr Eatts asks about the number of patients waiting in hospital for aged care placement and what the state government is doing to alleviate pressure on hospitals. The Minister responds, highlighting federal responsibility but detailing state initiatives and advocacy for increased federal funding.
AnsweredQoN 109Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Aged care—Placements
109. Mr Bevan Eatts to
the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors:
It has been 12
months since the March election.
(1) What exact number of medically ready for
discharge patients are currently waiting in hospital for residential aged-care
placement?
(2) What action is the state government taking to
reduce this pressure on hospitals to ensure elderly Western Australians can
move into appropriate care?
109. Mr Bevan Eatts to
the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors:
It has been 12
months since the March election.
(1) What exact number of medically ready for
discharge patients are currently waiting in hospital for residential aged-care
placement?
(2) What action is the state government taking to
reduce this pressure on hospitals to ensure elderly Western Australians can
move into appropriate care?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I am really
pleased to take this question. I have pointed out before when the member has
asked about aged care—I understand it is an issue in his electorate,
like it is throughout the rest the state—that usually we do not expect
to get Dorothy Dixers from the other side! I am very pleased to answer the
question anyway, because, as the member knows, aged care is the responsibility
of the federal government, but since the last election, for the first time, the
Premier nominated me to take up the issue of aged care because we need to
advocate for more of our state's share from the federal government.
The member asked how many people
were waiting in hospital for residential aged-care services or home-care
packages. As of 8 March, so Sunday, there were 368 people. It is a significant
number; we are very aware of that. I am happy to talk about the things we are
doing. The member would have perhaps heard late last week that the federal
government announced $112 million in capital funding that will be distributed in four key hotspots. It is significant
that for the first time the federal government has agreed that the Perth
metropolitan area will receive a share of that capital funding to go to
residential aged care. That is welcome. What I am perhaps a little less
enthusiastic about is the quantum, because our share, if it is delivered
between the four sites, is likely to deliver 50 aged-care beds. The figure that
WA Health was commissioned to predict we will need by 2030–31 is 2,800
beds—so, 50 beds are being delivered by that federal funding but we
need 2,800. It is a significant shortfall. That is why we stepped up in the
last election campaign and promised $100 million in the low-interest loan
scheme. That is up for evaluation at the moment, and we will announce providers
that are successful for those loans in the coming months.
Of course, we also have our Time
to Think beds, which have been incredibly successful across the metropolitan
area and have now been extended down into the South West as well. This is about
12 weeks; it can be slightly longer. That has produced a number of
improvements. Our Time to Think pilot has discharged 332 long-stay older
patients since commencement in May last year. That is a significant number of
people who are in more appropriate care and able to have the time to get their
affairs in order. About one-fifth of those, 20%, go back home with the right sort
of supports, but many need to find residential aged care. There is also social
work support, as well as them just being in a more appropriate care setting. As
at the end of January this year, that pilot has freed up over 9,000 hospital
bed days, saving $25 million. That $25 million is determined by the difference
between an expensive tertiary care bed in a hospital and the cost of
residential care.
There is more to do, member,
there is no doubt about that. We as a state government are leaning into that in
our advocacy and our delivery. I will continue to do that in conjunction with
the Minister for Health and the rest of the WA cabinet.
pleased to take this question. I have pointed out before when the member has
asked about aged care—I understand it is an issue in his electorate,
like it is throughout the rest the state—that usually we do not expect
to get Dorothy Dixers from the other side! I am very pleased to answer the
question anyway, because, as the member knows, aged care is the responsibility
of the federal government, but since the last election, for the first time, the
Premier nominated me to take up the issue of aged care because we need to
advocate for more of our state's share from the federal government.
The member asked how many people
were waiting in hospital for residential aged-care services or home-care
packages. As of 8 March, so Sunday, there were 368 people. It is a significant
number; we are very aware of that. I am happy to talk about the things we are
doing. The member would have perhaps heard late last week that the federal
government announced $112 million in capital funding that will be distributed in four key hotspots. It is significant
that for the first time the federal government has agreed that the Perth
metropolitan area will receive a share of that capital funding to go to
residential aged care. That is welcome. What I am perhaps a little less
enthusiastic about is the quantum, because our share, if it is delivered
between the four sites, is likely to deliver 50 aged-care beds. The figure that
WA Health was commissioned to predict we will need by 2030–31 is 2,800
beds—so, 50 beds are being delivered by that federal funding but we
need 2,800. It is a significant shortfall. That is why we stepped up in the
last election campaign and promised $100 million in the low-interest loan
scheme. That is up for evaluation at the moment, and we will announce providers
that are successful for those loans in the coming months.
Of course, we also have our Time
to Think beds, which have been incredibly successful across the metropolitan
area and have now been extended down into the South West as well. This is about
12 weeks; it can be slightly longer. That has produced a number of
improvements. Our Time to Think pilot has discharged 332 long-stay older
patients since commencement in May last year. That is a significant number of
people who are in more appropriate care and able to have the time to get their
affairs in order. About one-fifth of those, 20%, go back home with the right sort
of supports, but many need to find residential aged care. There is also social
work support, as well as them just being in a more appropriate care setting. As
at the end of January this year, that pilot has freed up over 9,000 hospital
bed days, saving $25 million. That $25 million is determined by the difference
between an expensive tertiary care bed in a hospital and the cost of
residential care.
There is more to do, member,
there is no doubt about that. We as a state government are leaning into that in
our advocacy and our delivery. I will continue to do that in conjunction with
the Minister for Health and the rest of the WA cabinet.
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