Health—Winter surge planning
353. Ms Libby Mettam to the Minister for Health:
What percentage of health service providers' requests for funding for the winter surge plan was approved by the state government?
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
I thank the member for the question.
It is an important time to reflect on the work that is being done in the system to meet the increased demand we expect in winter. We know that every winter there is increased demand on our system. Indeed, this winter has been exceptional because of a significant amount of demand. Just this week, we have seen a record number of priority 1 calls. We had more than a thousand 000 calls on Monday, demonstrating the significant demand that the system has experienced.
Every year, the Department of Health undertakes planning to be able to meet increases in demand. Those plans cover a range of things. One of the initiatives was our free flu vaccination program. We encouraged people to get vaccinated because that is one way we can ensure the community remains safe. Other initiatives include things like expanding our Hospital in the Home program, as well as a whole range of other initiatives. The department works very closely with health service providers in managing the winter demand plan but also in looking at what other initiatives, actions and things need to be undertaken to make sure our health system is responding to the increased demand over winter. This winter, as I said, we have seen exceptional levels of demand—unprecedented levels of demand—and that means we have had to make other decisions on top of that to meet those demands in the system.
354. Ms Libby Mettam to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
It was not a hard question to answer. How much did the state government provide for the winter surge plan that was requested by our HSPs?
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
The plan is funded in a range of ways. People who are familiar with health funding will understand that one of the important ways we meet demand in our system is through activity-based funding through our agreement with the Commonwealth. Funding on a range of initiatives happens in a range of different ways.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse.
Ms Meredith Hammat: I have spoken before in this place about our strategies, which are focused on our—
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: The supplementary question from the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was specifically about an amount that the minister requested and she is yet to answer either the initial question or the supplementary question.
The Speaker: Thank you, member. I shall not uphold that point of order. The minister can respond in the way that she chooses.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Meredith Hammat: Thank you. What I am explaining is that the winter demand plan has a range of initiatives and those initiatives are funded in a range of a different ways. For example, the free flu vaccination program is something we have talked about a lot in this house, and it has been funded specifically—the RSV vaccination program. Many of the activities undertaken by HSPs are funded through activity-based funding; it is through a different model of funding.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Things like our Time to Think beds, we fund through specific initiatives in the budget. They are a very important part of the plan to discharge older Western Australians into the community. There is a range of initiatives and a range of different ways that they are funded, but what I said—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! The minister is responding to the question.
Ms Meredith Hammat: There is a range of initiatives in the winter demand plan and they are funded in a range of different ways. We will always look at what more we can do to meet the demand in our system.
