❓ Dr. Pettitt inquires about health impacts of prescribed burns and wildfires, specifically requesting data on deaths, hospital admissions, and ED attendances. The response indicates a study was conducted on landscape fires and health service utilisation, but specific attribution of health outcomes to prescribed burns or wildfires is not possible due to data limitations.
AnsweredQoN 1546Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Has the Department of Health undertaken or commissioned an
assessment of the health impacts of prescribed burning operations? (2) In each of the past three years, how many instances of the following have been caused by (i) prescribed burns and (ii) wildfires respectively: (a) deaths; (b) hospital admissions; and (c) Emergency Department attendances?
assessment of the health impacts of prescribed burning operations? (2) In each of the past three years, how many instances of the following have been caused by (i) prescribed burns and (ii) wildfires respectively: (a) deaths; (b) hospital admissions; and (c) Emergency Department attendances?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 October 2023
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Response time
10 days
1) During 2020-2021, the Department of Health conducted a study on the effects of landscape fires (including both prescribed burns and bush fires) on health service utilisation and published three documents available on the Department of Health website.
2) As details of personal exposure to prescribed burns or bushfires are not routinely collected, attributing specific attendances, hospitalisations or deaths to such exposures is not possible with the data available. The studies performed indicated a population level association between landscape fires and health service utilisation.
2) As details of personal exposure to prescribed burns or bushfires are not routinely collected, attributing specific attendances, hospitalisations or deaths to such exposures is not possible with the data available. The studies performed indicated a population level association between landscape fires and health service utilisation.
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