❓ Mr. L'Estrange questions the Minister for Health about a significant increase in ambulance ramping hours. The Minister acknowledges the increase, attributes it to a potential 'summer flu phenomenon,' and outlines measures being taken to address the issue, including implementing election commitments and reforms to alleviate pressure on emergency departments.
AnsweredQoN 189Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH SERVICES —
AMBULANCE RAMPING
189. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the information provided
in response to a question on notice and data from the Department of Health's
website that shows that for the first 11 weeks of this year, ambulance ramping
was over 3 000 hours more than for the same period last year. What is the
minister doing to address this crisis in the government health system?
AMBULANCE RAMPING
189. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the information provided
in response to a question on notice and data from the Department of Health's
website that shows that for the first 11 weeks of this year, ambulance ramping
was over 3 000 hours more than for the same period last year. What is the
minister doing to address this crisis in the government health system?
AnswerView source ↗
The statistics on ambulance ramping
show that there has been an increase in emergency department attendances over
the first few months of this year.
Mr P.C. Tinley interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Housing!
Mr R.H. COOK : Overall, ED
attendances have meant that our EDs are under significant pressure. Some of the
clinicians have described it as a summer flu phenomenon or epidemic that is
going on. We are attempting to understand why there has been this particular
increase over those particular months. As all members will be familiar with,
this is not typically the time of year that we have an increase in ED
attendances, but it is happening. We have asked the population health division
of the Department of Health to have a close look at those issues to see what is
going on.
In general terms, our ramping
numbers are reflecting the off-stretcher percentages, which are slightly down
at the moment. That suggests that there is
increased activity, although ramping is significantly higher than the
off-stretcher rates would suggest. Between St John Ambulance and the
Department of Health we are also undertaking an audit of ramping numbers so
that we can dig in and get a better idea about the point at which those
blockages are occurring. The good news is that our Western Australia emergency
access target—WEAT—numbers are holding up pretty well. We are
still achieving good rates in our target arrangements. From that perspective,
our emergency departments are performing very well under trying conditions.
The question then is: what are we
going to do about it? We are implementing our election commitments, which are
about taking the stress off our emergency departments. It is about improving
our EDs through the installation of mental health observation areas, which
means that we can take an increasing volume of patients who are suffering from
some mental health condition or psychosis to the side to treat them in a more
appropriate environment. That takes the pressure off the ED and means that they
get better care. In addition, we are installing urgent care clinic toxicology
units. We have already done one at Royal Perth Hospital for patients who are
mostly impacted by alcohol and other drugs. That has had huge success in taking
the pressure off the main ED. Much to the delight of everyone here today, I am
sure, the federal Shorten Labor opposition has committed to developing one of
those units at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as well. Clearly, the Shorten
Labor Party has a keen interest in the needs of WA patients.
We are undertaking a range of
reforms that are about taking the pressure off our EDs and assisting them to
meet the needs of the WA community. As I said, we are still going really well
with our WEAT targets and all the doctors and nurses working on the front line
are to be commended for that performance.
show that there has been an increase in emergency department attendances over
the first few months of this year.
Mr P.C. Tinley interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Housing!
Mr R.H. COOK : Overall, ED
attendances have meant that our EDs are under significant pressure. Some of the
clinicians have described it as a summer flu phenomenon or epidemic that is
going on. We are attempting to understand why there has been this particular
increase over those particular months. As all members will be familiar with,
this is not typically the time of year that we have an increase in ED
attendances, but it is happening. We have asked the population health division
of the Department of Health to have a close look at those issues to see what is
going on.
In general terms, our ramping
numbers are reflecting the off-stretcher percentages, which are slightly down
at the moment. That suggests that there is
increased activity, although ramping is significantly higher than the
off-stretcher rates would suggest. Between St John Ambulance and the
Department of Health we are also undertaking an audit of ramping numbers so
that we can dig in and get a better idea about the point at which those
blockages are occurring. The good news is that our Western Australia emergency
access target—WEAT—numbers are holding up pretty well. We are
still achieving good rates in our target arrangements. From that perspective,
our emergency departments are performing very well under trying conditions.
The question then is: what are we
going to do about it? We are implementing our election commitments, which are
about taking the stress off our emergency departments. It is about improving
our EDs through the installation of mental health observation areas, which
means that we can take an increasing volume of patients who are suffering from
some mental health condition or psychosis to the side to treat them in a more
appropriate environment. That takes the pressure off the ED and means that they
get better care. In addition, we are installing urgent care clinic toxicology
units. We have already done one at Royal Perth Hospital for patients who are
mostly impacted by alcohol and other drugs. That has had huge success in taking
the pressure off the main ED. Much to the delight of everyone here today, I am
sure, the federal Shorten Labor opposition has committed to developing one of
those units at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as well. Clearly, the Shorten
Labor Party has a keen interest in the needs of WA patients.
We are undertaking a range of
reforms that are about taking the pressure off our EDs and assisting them to
meet the needs of the WA community. As I said, we are still going really well
with our WEAT targets and all the doctors and nurses working on the front line
are to be commended for that performance.
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