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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 361 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 April 2020 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — TESTING — REGIONAL AREAS

361. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:

I refer to the Minister for Health's commitment to establish COVID-19 testing clinics in Albany, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha, South Hedland and Broome.

(1) Given the government is no longer committed to these sites in the short term due to low demand, what is the relevant trigger for establishing a clinic at these locations?

(2) Has the WA Country Health Service been directed to develop a plan or plans to prevent infection spreading in regional emergency departments?

(3) If yes to (2), has a plan been developed; and —

(a) if yes to (3), please table; and

(b) if no to (3), when is a plan expected to be completed?

(4) Does the government have plans to fast-track its commitment to deliver urgent care clinics in regional Western Australia that could provide a dedicated assessment and testing service for potential COVID-19 patients?

Hon ALANNA CLOHESY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I note that this question was lodged over two weeks ago, on Tuesday, 31 March, and things change fairly quickly. This answer was accurate as at that date.

(1) COVID-19 testing in these regions is available through hospitals, health centres and remote health clinics operated by the WA Country Health Service, Silver Chain, Aboriginal medical services or the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The requirement for opening COVID-19 clinics in these regions takes into consideration public access to COVID-19 testing, changes in testing criteria, and the status of community transmission.

(2) No. The following existing plans are in place: ''WACHS: Infection Prevention and Control Policy'', ''WACHS: Environmental Cleaning Policy'' and ''Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19): Infection Prevention and Control in the Hospital Setting''. Additionally, other relevant source documents include the ''Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019)'', produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards document titled ''Standard 3: Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections''.

(3) Not applicable.

(4) At this time, adequate COVID-19 testing is already available at hospitals, health centres and remote health clinics operated by the WA Country Health Service, Silver Chain, Aboriginal medical services or the Royal Flying Doctor Service.