Government's achievements in health

The WA Government has compiled a list of its top achievements in health.

332 extra hospital beds across metropolitan hospitals

The Government has allocated an additional $16.5million to enable 130 of these beds to remain open year round. Additional beds will be leased from private hospitals if necessary to cope with demand during the future winter months.

In December 2004 the Government purchased the 95-bed Kaleeya Hospital in East Fremantle and the 61-bed Galliers Private Hospital in Armadale.

Both complete with beds, theatres and medical equipment. The 156-beds extra beds provided by this initiative will help take pressure off other hospitals and emergency departments, especially during the peak winter period.

These initiatives, will increase total bed numbers by more than 300 in 2005.

Recruitment of 1,346 more nurses in public hospitals since 2001 (as at September 2004)

The State's biggest nurse recruitment campaign reversed the decline of nurses seen under the previous government.

By September 2004 more than 1,346 full-time salaried nurses have been recruited back into public hospitals since 2001.

Additionally, in March 2003 the Govt announced a new initiative to reduce Western Australia's reliance on private nursing agencies.

Nursewest was established to provide a single point of entry for temporary staff wanting to work in public hospitals and health services.

In 2003/04 the Government was able to reallocate $24.7m to other areas of the health system thanks to the savings made using Nurse West.

$65million for state-of-the-art medical equipment

This funding will see hospitals around the State replace outdated equipment and purchase the latest cutting edge technology.

$34.7million for more ambulances and staff

The State Government's recent $34.7million contract with St John Ambulance (SJA), has provided for 30 new ambulances and more than 100 new ambulance officers and communications staff.

This 40% increase in funding for St John has provided for more ambulances on the road, allowing for improved response times and reduced need for ambulance diversion and ramping at hospital emergency departments.

Additionally, access to emergency services will also be improved thanks to the computer system recently installed in the St John Ambulance control room.

More than $22million to upgrade hospital emergency departments

The major upgrades have ensured patients receive the highest level of care and treatment from WA's public hospital emergency departments.

The Government's commitment towards our hospitals has provided for the redevelopment of the emergency department at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, upgraded emergency departments at Princess Margaret Hospital and Swan District Hospital, and the rebuilding of the emergency department at Rockingham-Kwinana District Hospital.

Elective surgery waiting lists in our public hospitals are the lowest ever recorded

At it's peak in 1999, the elective surgery waiting list was over 21,546.

Since December 2003 The Gallop Government has committed $18m to reducing the waiting list. In December 2004, it was 15,898. Waiting lists have been reduced to the lowest since recording.

More GP clinics

The Government has jointly funded after hours GP clinics close to Royal Perth, Fremantle, Joondalup and Rockingham hospitals to reduce pressure on emergency departments.

In May 2004, the State Health Minister and the Federal Health Minister announced the proposal to open four after hours medical centres adjacent to hospital emergency departments. In November 2004 the last of these was opened in Rockingham.

The after hour clinics provide GPs to treat patients with minor ailments, allowing some of the pressure to be taken off emergency department staff so they can concentrate on patients with more serious conditions.

Since opening in May, GPs at the Royal Perth and Fremantle clinics have seen more than 3,700 patients. The Joondalup clinic, which opened in September, has treated more than 2,200 patients.

Extra mental health beds

An extra 420 community beds and 113 hospital beds have been opened and 425 new staff employed to care for mental heath patients.

In 2004 the Government announced a funding boost of $173 million for mental health programs as part of the Government's Comprehensive Mental Health Strategy.

The Government's new Mental Health strategy is in line with recommendations of the Reid Report which found that demand for mental health services was the fastest growing area of the health system and that the trend would continue over the next 10 years.

In 2005/06 the Government will spend more than $300m on public mental health services. An increase of 50% on the figure spent by the previous Government in 00/01.

The Government's $173m Comprehensive Mental Health Strategy includes initiatives to provide an additional 420 community beds, 113 hospital beds and 425 new mental health staff.

These additional staff represent one of the biggest increases in mental health staffing in the State's history.

Free flu vaccines

Free flu vaccines have been provided for people aged 65 and over with 95% taking up the offer.

Each year free influenza vaccines are offered for people in high risk categories.

In 2004, the winter illness prevention campaign, saw more than 216,000 people aged 65 and over take up the free flu vaccine offer.

Our State's first Cancer Centre of Excellence and a new world-class Burns Unit at Royal Perth are under development.

In November 2004, Health Minister Jim McGinty announced a $12million plan to transform Royal Perth Hospital into Western Australia's major trauma centre.

The upgrade will involve the reconfiguration of trauma and burns facilities and will provide an extra 40 beds for a new state-of-the-art burns unit, high dependency unit and trauma facility.

Amalgamating the State's trauma and burns resources into one hospital will ensure that patients receive the highest level of care from WA's most experienced health professionals in a world-class facility.

The Government has also allocated $2million towards the establishment of the inpatient Telstra Burns Unit, which is currently being built.

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:27 EST