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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 398 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 May 2022 by Hon James Hayward

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — HOSPITALISATIONS

398. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health:

I refer to COVID hospitalisation statistics.

(1) Is the minister aware of community concern about the lack of distinction between people who are hospitalised with COVID or because of COVID?

(2) Why is it not possible to provide more clarity to the community as to the underlying primary cause of hospitalisation for those counted in the COVID hospitalisation statistics?

(3) Is the minister concerned that the lack of distinction between people hospitalised due to COVID may undermine community confidence in the government's health messaging?

(4) Does the minister agree it would be beneficial to provide more detail in COVID hospitalisation statistics; and, if not, why not?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

(1)–(4) The Department of Health provides daily COVID-19 updates and more detailed updates that include a breakdown of COVID-19 hospitalisations by age and vaccination status more than once a week. It is not possible to provide more timely information on the underlying principal diagnosis or cause for admission as this can only be definitively reported following discharge and review of clinical information. This approach to and limitations with reporting of diagnostic information is consistent across all jurisdictions. Further, it is not appropriate to provide detailed clinical information that pertains to patients hospitalised with or from COVID-19.