❓ The Minister for Health addresses concerns about regional COVID-19 patient care, stating that while regional hospitals will provide initial care, critically ill patients will be transferred to metropolitan ICUs, with the South West Health Campus ICU as a possible option. The government emphasizes preparedness and confidence in regional hospitals.
AnsweredQoN 825Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — INTENSIVE CARE UNITS —
REGIONS
825. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the COVID-19 emergency
plan of the Australian Medical Association (WA), which calls for a planned
escalation of care for regional COVID patients. Is it the government's
intention that regional COVID patients be treated at home or in regional
hospitals, noting that Bunbury has the only regionally based intensive care
unit, or will they be transferred to metropolitan hospitals?
REGIONS
825. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the COVID-19 emergency
plan of the Australian Medical Association (WA), which calls for a planned
escalation of care for regional COVID patients. Is it the government's
intention that regional COVID patients be treated at home or in regional
hospitals, noting that Bunbury has the only regionally based intensive care
unit, or will they be transferred to metropolitan hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. Obviously, it is our hope that anyone who contracts the disease will
be the beneficiary of a vaccination, double
dose or boosted, if necessary, and will have the opportunity to access
antivirals , which should be available
sometime in early January. Our hope is that very few people who contract the
disease will then need to be hospitalised. If they are hospitalised,
obviously, it is our fervent hope that early care for that patient will not see
their symptoms progress to the need for ICU care.
For the large part, patients will be able to be cared for in
a hospital setting without the need to escalate them to an ICU setting. If that
is the case, we have very well drilled and understood protocols with our ambulance
transport services in the Royal Flying Doctor Service and St John Ambulance and
are in a position to make sure that those people who are tipping into a critical
state are transferred to an ICU facility in the metropolitan area to receive
the very highest level of care.
As
the member observed, we do have an IC unit at South West Health Campus. That
would be one option, of course . But, by and large, those patients who
need the very highest level of care in an ICU setting will be transferred. As I
said, we have done a lot of work in our preparation to make sure that we have
the necessary protocols, personal protective equipment and resources,
particularly in relation to staffing, so that we can respond to any challenges
that the COVID-19 pandemic throws at us.
I think that our hospitals,
particularly our regional hospitals, have responded extremely well in the early
days of this pandemic, and I know and I have confidence that they will once
again do us proud in the event that the disease does make its way into our
regional communities.
question. Obviously, it is our hope that anyone who contracts the disease will
be the beneficiary of a vaccination, double
dose or boosted, if necessary, and will have the opportunity to access
antivirals , which should be available
sometime in early January. Our hope is that very few people who contract the
disease will then need to be hospitalised. If they are hospitalised,
obviously, it is our fervent hope that early care for that patient will not see
their symptoms progress to the need for ICU care.
For the large part, patients will be able to be cared for in
a hospital setting without the need to escalate them to an ICU setting. If that
is the case, we have very well drilled and understood protocols with our ambulance
transport services in the Royal Flying Doctor Service and St John Ambulance and
are in a position to make sure that those people who are tipping into a critical
state are transferred to an ICU facility in the metropolitan area to receive
the very highest level of care.
As
the member observed, we do have an IC unit at South West Health Campus. That
would be one option, of course . But, by and large, those patients who
need the very highest level of care in an ICU setting will be transferred. As I
said, we have done a lot of work in our preparation to make sure that we have
the necessary protocols, personal protective equipment and resources,
particularly in relation to staffing, so that we can respond to any challenges
that the COVID-19 pandemic throws at us.
I think that our hospitals,
particularly our regional hospitals, have responded extremely well in the early
days of this pandemic, and I know and I have confidence that they will once
again do us proud in the event that the disease does make its way into our
regional communities.
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