❓ Mr. L'Estrange questions the Minister for Health about increasing ambulance ramping hours and requests investment in hospitals. The Minister acknowledges the pressure on the hospital system due to the winter flu season and states they are monitoring the situation.
AnsweredQoN 562Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH SERVICES — AMBULANCE RAMPING
562. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Minister for Health:
On behalf of the member for Warrren–Blackwood and the
member for Vasse, I would like to acknowledge the teacher and students from
Margaret River Senior High School who are with us today.
I refer to the fact that last week, on Monday, 13 August,
there were 168.7 hours of ambulance ramping—the third worst in seven
years. Last night it was even worse, with 180.6 hours of ambulance ramping.
What is the minister doing to invest in our hospitals so that patients can be
seen by an emergency department when they arrive by ambulance?
562. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Minister for Health:
On behalf of the member for Warrren–Blackwood and the
member for Vasse, I would like to acknowledge the teacher and students from
Margaret River Senior High School who are with us today.
I refer to the fact that last week, on Monday, 13 August,
there were 168.7 hours of ambulance ramping—the third worst in seven
years. Last night it was even worse, with 180.6 hours of ambulance ramping.
What is the minister doing to invest in our hospitals so that patients can be
seen by an emergency department when they arrive by ambulance?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, can I just apologise to the chamber: I meant to
say at the beginning of my remarks that I wanted to acknowledge the Premier's
bereavement. On behalf of everyone, I am sure, we express our condolences to
him, and to you, Minister for Transport, on the loss of your father.
As I said last week, the
public hospital system is under pressure; I think the member is absolutely
right. We have another four weeks to go of the peak period of the winter flu
season, during which our emergency departments will continue to feel the
strain. These are difficult times for the hospital system and we are continuing
to monitor the work done. Our emergency departments are still showing that they
are getting to our patients within a good period of time. As I said, the metric
I look at most is that of stretcher time. To the relief of the member for
Churchlands, as shadow Minister for Health, he will see that that, too,
indicates that we are struggling in relation to emergency departments. We are
continuing to monitor the situation to make sure we are providing a decent
service to patients, but patients will know that this is the peak of our winter
flu season and it is the time when our system is most under strain. We are just
about through it, and we will see the situation significantly improve.
say at the beginning of my remarks that I wanted to acknowledge the Premier's
bereavement. On behalf of everyone, I am sure, we express our condolences to
him, and to you, Minister for Transport, on the loss of your father.
As I said last week, the
public hospital system is under pressure; I think the member is absolutely
right. We have another four weeks to go of the peak period of the winter flu
season, during which our emergency departments will continue to feel the
strain. These are difficult times for the hospital system and we are continuing
to monitor the work done. Our emergency departments are still showing that they
are getting to our patients within a good period of time. As I said, the metric
I look at most is that of stretcher time. To the relief of the member for
Churchlands, as shadow Minister for Health, he will see that that, too,
indicates that we are struggling in relation to emergency departments. We are
continuing to monitor the situation to make sure we are providing a decent
service to patients, but patients will know that this is the peak of our winter
flu season and it is the time when our system is most under strain. We are just
about through it, and we will see the situation significantly improve.
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