❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding the pausing of elective surgeries in WA, referencing AMA criticism. The Minister defends the decision, citing increased demand and workforce pressures, and claims the AMA's private feedback differs from their public statements.
AnsweredQoN 478Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTIVE SURGERY
478. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to comments from the
national Australian Medical Association slamming states for pausing elective
surgery, claiming it represents gross mismanagement of the health system.
(1) Can the
minister confirm whether Western Australia is the only state without a COVID
outbreak to pause elective surgery?
(2) Is this not
further proof of the minister's mismanagement and failure to manage our
health system over the past 18 months?
478. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I refer to comments from the
national Australian Medical Association slamming states for pausing elective
surgery, claiming it represents gross mismanagement of the health system.
(1) Can the
minister confirm whether Western Australia is the only state without a COVID
outbreak to pause elective surgery?
(2) Is this not
further proof of the minister's mismanagement and failure to manage our
health system over the past 18 months?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
know the Australian Medical Association says a bunch of things, but Dr Khorshid
says a very different thing to me behind closed doors; I can assure members of
that. Obviously, it is important during —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK :
What was that?
Mr R.S. Love :
Was he saying something different to you than he is saying in public?
Mr R.H. COOK : Yes, that is
exactly what I am saying. The member for Moore is here to translate for the
member for Roe. It is an interpreter service!
Several members
interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK :
You got me, member for Moore!
Several members
interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, please, members!
Minister, the question was asked by the member for Vasse. Can I suggest that you ignore the member for Moore's interjections and respond to the
member for Vasse.
Mr R.H. COOK : That is an
exceptional piece of advice, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much. I will ignore
the member for Moore from here on in!
Mr D.J. Kelly : Everyone else
does.
Mr R.H. COOK : Everyone else
does.
Madam Speaker, of course what we
have to do is manage the demand on our hospital system. We are experiencing
significant demand at the moment. That is the result of a post-COVID spike,
with a 20 per cent increase in the number of triage 2 patients presenting to
our emergency departments since 2019. In addition to that, the length of
episode of care in our EDs has increased on average by 19 minutes per patient.
That makes a significant impact on the way that we can provide care for those
patients who are coming to us with very complex conditions. Add to that the
situation with workforce shortages and the fact that we have a healthcare
workforce that is very fatigued. That all puts pressure on our hospital system
so we have to implement a range of measures to make sure that we can continue
to look after patients and provide quality care.
I emphasise to people that the only
elective surgeries that have been rescheduled are category 3 and non-urgent
category 2 multi-day surgeries. Between 1 and 3 September that equalled a total
of about 120 operations. We are not talking about a big number, but we are
talking about a large number of beds that would be utilised during that period.
We need to make sure that we can manage the demand with the workforce that we
have as we continue to open more beds. It is not true to say that other
hospital systems are not doing this. I believe South Australia is undertaking a
similar program. It is an important part of managing it.
We know that the AMA is prone to
shrill language in the media but I assure members that I speak with the AMA,
both the state and the national leadership, on a regular basis. They provide me
with very different feedback behind closed doors; that is, they understand that
all our hospital systems are under pressure at the moment and that we need to
continue to work together so we can get through this together.
know the Australian Medical Association says a bunch of things, but Dr Khorshid
says a very different thing to me behind closed doors; I can assure members of
that. Obviously, it is important during —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK :
What was that?
Mr R.S. Love :
Was he saying something different to you than he is saying in public?
Mr R.H. COOK : Yes, that is
exactly what I am saying. The member for Moore is here to translate for the
member for Roe. It is an interpreter service!
Several members
interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK :
You got me, member for Moore!
Several members
interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, please, members!
Minister, the question was asked by the member for Vasse. Can I suggest that you ignore the member for Moore's interjections and respond to the
member for Vasse.
Mr R.H. COOK : That is an
exceptional piece of advice, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much. I will ignore
the member for Moore from here on in!
Mr D.J. Kelly : Everyone else
does.
Mr R.H. COOK : Everyone else
does.
Madam Speaker, of course what we
have to do is manage the demand on our hospital system. We are experiencing
significant demand at the moment. That is the result of a post-COVID spike,
with a 20 per cent increase in the number of triage 2 patients presenting to
our emergency departments since 2019. In addition to that, the length of
episode of care in our EDs has increased on average by 19 minutes per patient.
That makes a significant impact on the way that we can provide care for those
patients who are coming to us with very complex conditions. Add to that the
situation with workforce shortages and the fact that we have a healthcare
workforce that is very fatigued. That all puts pressure on our hospital system
so we have to implement a range of measures to make sure that we can continue
to look after patients and provide quality care.
I emphasise to people that the only
elective surgeries that have been rescheduled are category 3 and non-urgent
category 2 multi-day surgeries. Between 1 and 3 September that equalled a total
of about 120 operations. We are not talking about a big number, but we are
talking about a large number of beds that would be utilised during that period.
We need to make sure that we can manage the demand with the workforce that we
have as we continue to open more beds. It is not true to say that other
hospital systems are not doing this. I believe South Australia is undertaking a
similar program. It is an important part of managing it.
We know that the AMA is prone to
shrill language in the media but I assure members that I speak with the AMA,
both the state and the national leadership, on a regular basis. They provide me
with very different feedback behind closed doors; that is, they understand that
all our hospital systems are under pressure at the moment and that we need to
continue to work together so we can get through this together.
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