❓ The WA government outlines demand management strategies within the health system, particularly focusing on bariatric surgery, leading to a reduction in waiting list numbers. The government is actively managing demand to meet activity targets within its budget.
AnsweredQoN 1008Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 2013-14 Mid-Year Financial Projections Statement and the risk of Activity Based Funding on page 41, and I ask: (a) what demand management measures have so far been undertaken by the Department of Health; (b) which elective surgery procedures have been the subject of demand management measures; and (c) how many people have been removed from the elective surgery wait list as a result of these demand management measures?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 June 2014
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
70 days
As at 8 April 2014 -
Within Activity Based Funding (ABF), an annual target for the delivery of hospital services is set through the budget process. For 2013-14, the target is 782,489 weighted units of hospital activity. This target is indicated on page 132 of Budget Paper No.2.
The target incorporates growth of approximately 3% over the previous year's delivery of hospital activity, and is determined having regard to additional demand associated with population growth and ageing factors, and assumes active demand management of the system.
WA Health is on track to deliver activity consistent within this target in 201314.
(a) Demand management seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care and considers factors that influence demand, supply, available services and alternative models of care.
WA Health is working on a range of demand management strategies including accessing primary care, improving chronic disease management, ambulatory care, and emergency demand management.
These programs include Hospital in The Home (HITH), Rehabilitation in The Home (RITH), the Transition Care Program, and the Clinical Service Redesign program that will assist with hospital flow and continuous improvement.
WA Health is also working on initiatives that decrease long lengths of stay in hospital, where it is clinically appropriate to do so. There is particular focus on increasing the range of care that can be provided on a same day basis for both medical and surgical care.
(b) Demand management strategies will assist in alleviating demand for services across the health system. Bariatric elective surgery is the one procedure that has been subject to demand management measures.
Bariatric surgery for obesity is an area of surgery for which demand has surged in recent years. The risk that people who may be able to control their weight through means such as an improved diet, are instead seeking surgery to provide a "quick fix" to weight control. Bariatric surgery was prioritised as an area of demand management to ensure consistent assessment of whether and what type of surgery patients may require. This is being done in order to optimise patient outcomes and ensure best use of resources.
The
WA Health Bariatric Surgery Plan
, published on November 2012, was developed to provide a standardised approach to surgery for obesity including revised access criteria for bariatric surgery was published on 29 November 2012 to effectively standardise and manage bariatric demand on the elective surgery waitlist across the State. It provided bariatric surgeons with a set of guidelines about the circumstances in which surgery should be performed.
(c) Between July 2012 and March 2014, the number of elective bariatric surgery cases on the elective surgery waiting list and ready for care has reduced by 112 - from 220 to 108 cases.
The percentage of over boundary cases has reduced from 35% to 0%.
Within Activity Based Funding (ABF), an annual target for the delivery of hospital services is set through the budget process. For 2013-14, the target is 782,489 weighted units of hospital activity. This target is indicated on page 132 of Budget Paper No.2.
The target incorporates growth of approximately 3% over the previous year's delivery of hospital activity, and is determined having regard to additional demand associated with population growth and ageing factors, and assumes active demand management of the system.
WA Health is on track to deliver activity consistent within this target in 201314.
(a) Demand management seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care and considers factors that influence demand, supply, available services and alternative models of care.
WA Health is working on a range of demand management strategies including accessing primary care, improving chronic disease management, ambulatory care, and emergency demand management.
These programs include Hospital in The Home (HITH), Rehabilitation in The Home (RITH), the Transition Care Program, and the Clinical Service Redesign program that will assist with hospital flow and continuous improvement.
WA Health is also working on initiatives that decrease long lengths of stay in hospital, where it is clinically appropriate to do so. There is particular focus on increasing the range of care that can be provided on a same day basis for both medical and surgical care.
(b) Demand management strategies will assist in alleviating demand for services across the health system. Bariatric elective surgery is the one procedure that has been subject to demand management measures.
Bariatric surgery for obesity is an area of surgery for which demand has surged in recent years. The risk that people who may be able to control their weight through means such as an improved diet, are instead seeking surgery to provide a "quick fix" to weight control. Bariatric surgery was prioritised as an area of demand management to ensure consistent assessment of whether and what type of surgery patients may require. This is being done in order to optimise patient outcomes and ensure best use of resources.
The
WA Health Bariatric Surgery Plan
, published on November 2012, was developed to provide a standardised approach to surgery for obesity including revised access criteria for bariatric surgery was published on 29 November 2012 to effectively standardise and manage bariatric demand on the elective surgery waitlist across the State. It provided bariatric surgeons with a set of guidelines about the circumstances in which surgery should be performed.
(c) Between July 2012 and March 2014, the number of elective bariatric surgery cases on the elective surgery waiting list and ready for care has reduced by 112 - from 220 to 108 cases.
The percentage of over boundary cases has reduced from 35% to 0%.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.