ALBANY HEALTH CAMPUS — BED CAPACITY
659. Hon
JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to Albany Health Campus.
(1) On how many days in the past
month were patients treated in corridors due to a lack of beds?
(2) On how many
days in the past month have clinical nurse staff been seconded to the emergency
department for registered nurse duties?
(3) Does the
management of Albany Health Campus consider treating patients in corridors to
be safe for staff and patients?
(4) Is the minister confident that staff at Albany
Health Campus are provided with a safe working environment?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the
Minister for Health.
(1) Patients who
attend the Albany Health Campus emergency department are assessed and treated,
after which they are ether discharged, transferred or admitted to the Albany
hospital inpatient ward. Patients may wait in the emergency department until a bed
is available on the wards and are monitored and cared for by medical and
nursing staff.
(2) No nurses have been seconded to the emergency
department. When the Albany Health Campus emergency department or any part of the hospital is busy
with unwell patients, there are hospital-rostered supernumerary nurses
who will go to the emergency department from within the hospital to assist as
required. Staff from other areas are deployed regularly to areas to address
clinical need.
(3) Albany Health
Campus management follows occupational health and safety guidelines to ensure
the environment is safe for patients and staff.
(4) The WA
Country Health Service has a safety management system in place to ensure a safe
working environment for staff, which
includes identification, reporting and management of safety risks and hazards
in the workplace.
The PRESIDENT:
I call Hon Neil Simpson.