❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister for Health about ambulance ramping statistics, highlighting a significant increase compared to 2017 and the highest recorded levels occurring under the Minister's tenure. The Minister acknowledges a busy health system and outlines government initiatives to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 888Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HEALTH — AMBULANCE RAMPING
888. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the 1072 days that the minister has been the Minister for Health, and
her comments yesterday that she has achieved a lot in that time,
including genuine solutions that are delivering impacts to our hospitals and a 22
per cent decrease in ramping.
(1) Can the minister confirm that ramping last month
was 6 353 hours? That is 890 per cent above the 640 hours recorded in
March 2017.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, please
pause for a moment, member. Member for Landsdale, you have interjected far too
much on this question. Please continue, member.
Ms L. METTAM :
(2) Can the
minister confirm that the highest level of recorded ramping occurred under her
watch at almost 6 972 hours?
888. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the 1072 days that the minister has been the Minister for Health, and
her comments yesterday that she has achieved a lot in that time,
including genuine solutions that are delivering impacts to our hospitals and a 22
per cent decrease in ramping.
(1) Can the minister confirm that ramping last month
was 6 353 hours? That is 890 per cent above the 640 hours recorded in
March 2017.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, please
pause for a moment, member. Member for Landsdale, you have interjected far too
much on this question. Please continue, member.
Ms L. METTAM :
(2) Can the
minister confirm that the highest level of recorded ramping occurred under her
watch at almost 6 972 hours?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
can confirm that we have seen record funding and record reform from this
government. We have a busy health system. There is no question about that.
September and October were particularly difficult months in our system. I want
to thank the people who are working in our hospitals and supporting our
community through what was a very busy time.
The respiratory winter illness had a long tail. I think we had a decade-high
spike of pneumonia in the system. It will all be seen in the statistics that we
transparently publish through the WA Health website. There were real drivers to
that demand. There is no question that there was real demand. With this
government, we are seeing a comprehensive plan to tackle our busy health
system. There is a comprehensive plan to support access to our health system.
Overall, ramping is coming down since the peak in the pandemic. We will have
seasonal spikes; there is no question about that.
We have seen a reform of our ambulance contract and a genuine partnership with
St John Ambulance . There are 800 new beds in the system in four years.
That is the equivalent of Fiona Stanley Hospital on our health system in four
years. That is a 30 per cent increase in staffing to support the men and women working in our hospitals, so they can take leave,
so they can have colleagues. We are filling those positions so they
continue to work in our system to support our community. We are delivering care
differently, particularly for older Western Australians
living in aged care, who are now able to access expert geriatricians and
emergency physicians online in the comfort of the facility that they live in. I
cannot wait to hear the ideas of the Leaders of the Liberal Party and the
National Party. It is time for some ideas. It is time to ''put up or
shut up'', in the words of one leader recently. It is time to put their
plans up to the community. We have a comprehensive plan. We have a plan; we
have investment and we have solutions. Where are the opposition's?
can confirm that we have seen record funding and record reform from this
government. We have a busy health system. There is no question about that.
September and October were particularly difficult months in our system. I want
to thank the people who are working in our hospitals and supporting our
community through what was a very busy time.
The respiratory winter illness had a long tail. I think we had a decade-high
spike of pneumonia in the system. It will all be seen in the statistics that we
transparently publish through the WA Health website. There were real drivers to
that demand. There is no question that there was real demand. With this
government, we are seeing a comprehensive plan to tackle our busy health
system. There is a comprehensive plan to support access to our health system.
Overall, ramping is coming down since the peak in the pandemic. We will have
seasonal spikes; there is no question about that.
We have seen a reform of our ambulance contract and a genuine partnership with
St John Ambulance . There are 800 new beds in the system in four years.
That is the equivalent of Fiona Stanley Hospital on our health system in four
years. That is a 30 per cent increase in staffing to support the men and women working in our hospitals, so they can take leave,
so they can have colleagues. We are filling those positions so they
continue to work in our system to support our community. We are delivering care
differently, particularly for older Western Australians
living in aged care, who are now able to access expert geriatricians and
emergency physicians online in the comfort of the facility that they live in. I
cannot wait to hear the ideas of the Leaders of the Liberal Party and the
National Party. It is time for some ideas. It is time to ''put up or
shut up'', in the words of one leader recently. It is time to put their
plans up to the community. We have a comprehensive plan. We have a plan; we
have investment and we have solutions. Where are the opposition's?
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