❓ Opposition questions Health Minister about increasing elective surgery waiting times, citing statistics and a Labor policy paper. The Minister acknowledges pressures, highlights improvements and investments, and accuses the Opposition of political opportunism.
AnsweredQoN 796Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTIVE SURGERY, WAITING TIMES
I refer the minister to the ALP policy paper titled “Access & quality in our public hospitals”, which states that Labor will tackle “waiting lists and waiting times for patients with urgent and semi-urgent needs”. (1) Is the minister aware that, according to Central Wait List Bureau statistics, waiting times for elective surgery have increased by nearly a month since February last year? (2) Is the minister also aware that 49 per cent of elective surgery patients at Royal Perth Hospital and 52 per cent of elective surgery patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are waiting longer than clinically desired? (3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA
I refer the minister to the ALP policy paper titled “Access & quality in our public hospitals”, which states that Labor will tackle “waiting lists and waiting times for patients with urgent and semi-urgent needs”. (1) Is the minister aware that, according to Central Wait List Bureau statistics, waiting times for elective surgery have increased by nearly a month since February last year? (2) Is the minister also aware that 49 per cent of elective surgery patients at Royal Perth Hospital and 52 per cent of elective surgery patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are waiting longer than clinically desired? (3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(1) Is the minister aware that, according to Central Wait List Bureau statistics, waiting times for elective surgery have increased by nearly a month since February last year? (2) Is the minister also aware that 49 per cent of elective surgery patients at Royal Perth Hospital and 52 per cent of elective surgery patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are waiting longer than clinically desired? (3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(2) Is the minister also aware that 49 per cent of elective surgery patients at Royal Perth Hospital and 52 per cent of elective surgery patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are waiting longer than clinically desired? (3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(1) Is the minister aware that, according to Central Wait List Bureau statistics, waiting times for elective surgery have increased by nearly a month since February last year? (2) Is the minister also aware that 49 per cent of elective surgery patients at Royal Perth Hospital and 52 per cent of elective surgery patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are waiting longer than clinically desired? (3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(2) Is the minister also aware that 49 per cent of elective surgery patients at Royal Perth Hospital and 52 per cent of elective surgery patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital are waiting longer than clinically desired? (3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(3) Will the minister now take urgent action to rectify this waiting list issue? Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
Mr KUCERA replied: (1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
(1)-(3) In my previous answer I indicated some of the pressures on our public hospital system through the emergency departments. One of the biggest pressures on elective surgery involves emergency departments. That is why new theatres are being built at Osborne Park Hospital and renewed at Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital in Shenton Park. We are working towards some $17 million worth of redevelopment of emergency departments. It is a long-term issue. I have been advised that the wait list is at its lowest level in about 11 years. Even though there has been an increase, members should consider the magnificent effort made by hospitals in this State over the past year, given that for a large part of last year almost half the elective surgery areas of Royal Perth Hospital were closed because of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. That was taken into account with the redevelopment of hospitals. VRE infections were being dealt with in other hospitals as well, which again impacted on waiting lists. I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
I remind the Opposition that this Government fixed the enterprise bargaining agreements with the nurses and the Hospital Salaried Officers Association. It is in firm negotiations with the doctors and other nursing organisations in this State. This Government will be judged on what it has done to improve elective surgery waiting times at the end of its term, and not on a day-to-day or month-by-month basis, which the Opposition chooses to use for its own political ends.
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