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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 813 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 23 November 2021 by Ms L. Mettam

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

ALBANY HEALTH CAMPUS — BED CAPACITY

813. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Health:

I recognise the ongoing concerns around the Albany Health Campus, and the community forum held last week, attended by more than 100 concerned residents, including current and former Health staff.

(1) Can the minister please confirm that no hospital bed was available in the great southern region last Thursday, as stated by the Mayor of Albany?

(2) Why has the minister not specified any additional beds for Albany Health Campus in either the state budget or his eleventh-hour attempt to better prepare our health system for COVID?

Mr R.H. COOK replied:

(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question, tawdry though it is. It is not surprising that we saw the member for Vasse and other members of Parliament drag their ''sad and sorrys'' down to Albany last week to try to stir up trouble at Albany Health Campus. The fact of the matter is —

Mr V.A. Catania interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for North West Central!

Mr R.H. COOK: The fact of the matter is, Madam Speaker, that all hospitals in our country health service, indeed across the network, are challenged at the moment. They are challenged because we live in difficult COVID times, and that has put pressure on the relationships and the beds, and continues to be a challenge for all of us. I spoke to the chair of the WA Country Health Service today. It is undertaking a range of activities to make sure that it can continue to support staff working across all campuses and, of course, Albany is an important one of those campuses.

To the issue of the allegations from the mayor on the eighteenth, I think the quote goes, ''Not a single bed was available at AHC, Plantagenet or Denmark.'' That was, unfortunately, like the member Vasse is so often, entirely wrong. Albany Health Campus was at capacity on the eighteenth, but it still had beds available to take another five patients. Denmark Hospital and Health Service had a bed available and Plantagenet Cranbrook Health Service had four beds available. It is just simply not true. What is also not true is the allegations —

Mr V.A. Catania interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for North West Central, you have not asked this question, and I am guessing you are not going to be asking a question at this rate.

Mr R.H. COOK: What is also not true are the allegations by the member for Vasse around ambulance ramping at Albany Health Campus. Apparently at this community meeting she claimed that it was skyrocketing. Ramping at Albany Health Campus in November was a total of 36 minutes, so 0.6 of an hour.

Ms L. Mettam interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Vasse, the question is being answered.

Mr R.H. COOK: In contrast, Madam Speaker, in November 2016—the last year in which the Liberal government was in power—it was over 80 minutes. It has actually reduced since Labor came into power. All these facts elude the member for Vasse and the Liberal opposition, because as we know they are not interested in facts. This is the same disregard for facts that they have around vaccines, and it is the same disregard for support in our health system that they have right across the healthcare system overall. At the end of the day, I think the one piece of advice that everyone should heed is that you just do not believe the Liberal Party or the member for Vasse when it comes to any issues on health.