❓ Hon Martin Aldridge asks about the definition, funding, and reporting of hospital beds and access block in WA public hospitals. The Minister provides definitions, clarifies funding models, and addresses public access to performance data.
AnsweredQoN 154Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to all public hospitals, including public hospitals
with private operators, and the availability of beds at those hospitals, and
Iask: (a) how
does the Department of Health define a ‘hospital bed’; (b) how
long is a ‘hospital bed’ funded for, please break down for specific types of
beds; (c) how
does the Department of Health define ‘access block’; (d) will
the Minister commit to making Emergency Access Targets (WEAT) and/or Hospital
Access Targets (HAT) available again to the public; (e) if
yes to (d), when; (f) if no to (d), why not; (g) will the Minister commit to ensuring access
block statistics are made publicly available; (h) if
yes to (f), when; and (i) if no to (f), why not?
with private operators, and the availability of beds at those hospitals, and
Iask: (a) how
does the Department of Health define a ‘hospital bed’; (b) how
long is a ‘hospital bed’ funded for, please break down for specific types of
beds; (c) how
does the Department of Health define ‘access block’; (d) will
the Minister commit to making Emergency Access Targets (WEAT) and/or Hospital
Access Targets (HAT) available again to the public; (e) if
yes to (d), when; (f) if no to (d), why not; (g) will the Minister commit to ensuring access
block statistics are made publicly available; (h) if
yes to (f), when; and (i) if no to (f), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2021
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
I am advised:
(a) From a clinical perspective, a ‘hospital bed’ is a bed that is suitably located and equipped, that can be used by an admitted patient. In this context, a hospital bed is not an emergency stretcher, recovery trolley or surgical / procedural table.
A hospital bed is then further defined by type, as not all ‘hospital beds’ are appropriate for all inpatients. For example, a neonatal cot is included in a hospitals’ total bed number, however, a cot cannot accommodate an adult. Similarly, a hospital bed that is suitable for a mental health inpatient is not the same as a hospital bed suitable for a rehabilitation patient.
Lastly, a hospital bed can be further categorised as ‘available’ or ‘open’, dependent on available staffing, equipment and funding.
(b) WA Health funds Health Service Providers for services provided, rather than for the number or types of beds required. With the exception of contracted services at external sites, where the use of beds may be purchased for a limited duration based on need, there is no time limited funding for hospital beds.
(c) ‘Access block’ refers to the situation where patients requiring emergency hospital admission spend an unreasonable amount of time in an emergency department (ED), because they are unable to gain access to an open hospital inpatient bed of the necessary type.
(d) The target for WEAT remains 90 percent and associated performance data is readily available to the public via the WA Health performance webpage.
(e)-(f) Not applicable.
(g)-(i) Access block is not reported by the Department of Health.
(a) From a clinical perspective, a ‘hospital bed’ is a bed that is suitably located and equipped, that can be used by an admitted patient. In this context, a hospital bed is not an emergency stretcher, recovery trolley or surgical / procedural table.
A hospital bed is then further defined by type, as not all ‘hospital beds’ are appropriate for all inpatients. For example, a neonatal cot is included in a hospitals’ total bed number, however, a cot cannot accommodate an adult. Similarly, a hospital bed that is suitable for a mental health inpatient is not the same as a hospital bed suitable for a rehabilitation patient.
Lastly, a hospital bed can be further categorised as ‘available’ or ‘open’, dependent on available staffing, equipment and funding.
(b) WA Health funds Health Service Providers for services provided, rather than for the number or types of beds required. With the exception of contracted services at external sites, where the use of beds may be purchased for a limited duration based on need, there is no time limited funding for hospital beds.
(c) ‘Access block’ refers to the situation where patients requiring emergency hospital admission spend an unreasonable amount of time in an emergency department (ED), because they are unable to gain access to an open hospital inpatient bed of the necessary type.
(d) The target for WEAT remains 90 percent and associated performance data is readily available to the public via the WA Health performance webpage.
(e)-(f) Not applicable.
(g)-(i) Access block is not reported by the Department of Health.
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