❓ Ms Mettam questions the Minister for Health about rolling operating theatre closures at Fiona Stanley Hospital to free up beds for winter and requests public data on elective surgery cancellations. The Minister responds by highlighting record-breaking elective surgery numbers and criticises the opposition's lack of a health plan.
AnsweredQoN 264Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Winter strategy—Operating theatre closures
264. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health:
I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that an operating theatre at
Fiona Stanley Hospital will also be subject to rolling closures to free up beds
for winter, and will the minister make elective surgery cancellation or
deferment data publicly available since the minister cannot answer a simple
question?
264. Ms Libby Mettam to
the Minister for Health:
I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that an operating theatre at
Fiona Stanley Hospital will also be subject to rolling closures to free up beds
for winter, and will the minister make elective surgery cancellation or
deferment data publicly available since the minister cannot answer a simple
question?
AnswerView source ↗
We have been very
clear about elective surgery. As the member would know, we have had a number of
record-breaking weeks in the delivery of elective surgeries.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We did. The member might not like
it, but it is true. That is what we have delivered—a record-breaking number of
elective surgeries since the pandemic.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, thank you!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Last year, WA Health admitted more
than 192,000 elective surgery patients. That was a 23% increase compared to
2022. We have been getting through a record number—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Vasse, I allowed your
question to stand. It was rather long as a supplementary and had a long
preamble to it, so please show me the courtesy of listening to the response.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We have broken the record 10 times
for the total number of surgeries completed in a week. In the last 18 months,
we have been getting through the number rapidly, despite our growing population
and despite our ageing population. Elective surgery is important. We will
continue to make sure that we are delivering elective surgery. Emergency access
is also important, as is access to—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: Are you going to cut health? Is
that your policy?
Ms Libby Mettam: Is Fiona Stanley closing?
Ms Meredith Hammat: For goodness sake!
The Speaker: Member for Vasse! Premier!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members and Premier, thank you. Member
for Vasse, please do not engage in cross-chamber arguments. Minister.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We have been clear about our
preparations for this winter to make sure that people have access to emergency
departments.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: That does really raise the
question: What is the plan of the opposition? What would it do?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: You cannot have it both ways,
member for Vasse. The member for Vasse cannot say on the one hand that we are
doing something and that it is also a sham. She cannot continue to come in here
without any plan about what the Liberal Party would do in health. The shadow
Treasurer says that we are spending too much.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Thank you.
clear about elective surgery. As the member would know, we have had a number of
record-breaking weeks in the delivery of elective surgeries.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We did. The member might not like
it, but it is true. That is what we have delivered—a record-breaking number of
elective surgeries since the pandemic.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, thank you!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Last year, WA Health admitted more
than 192,000 elective surgery patients. That was a 23% increase compared to
2022. We have been getting through a record number—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Vasse, I allowed your
question to stand. It was rather long as a supplementary and had a long
preamble to it, so please show me the courtesy of listening to the response.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We have broken the record 10 times
for the total number of surgeries completed in a week. In the last 18 months,
we have been getting through the number rapidly, despite our growing population
and despite our ageing population. Elective surgery is important. We will
continue to make sure that we are delivering elective surgery. Emergency access
is also important, as is access to—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: Are you going to cut health? Is
that your policy?
Ms Libby Mettam: Is Fiona Stanley closing?
Ms Meredith Hammat: For goodness sake!
The Speaker: Member for Vasse! Premier!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members and Premier, thank you. Member
for Vasse, please do not engage in cross-chamber arguments. Minister.
Ms Meredith Hammat: We have been clear about our
preparations for this winter to make sure that people have access to emergency
departments.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: That does really raise the
question: What is the plan of the opposition? What would it do?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: You cannot have it both ways,
member for Vasse. The member for Vasse cannot say on the one hand that we are
doing something and that it is also a sham. She cannot continue to come in here
without any plan about what the Liberal Party would do in health. The shadow
Treasurer says that we are spending too much.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Thank you.
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