23/04/05
Doctors, nurses and other health professionals will help shape the future of Perth’s hospitals in the biggest shake-up of the public health system in the State’s history.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said a new Clinical Services Framework based on the Health Reform Committee (Reid) report would see widespread changes in metropolitan hospitals and health services.
“This is a blueprint for the future of our public health system to ensure the right clinical services are provided in the right areas around Perth,” Mr McGinty said.
“We want to make this a more patient-focussed health system by delivering quality care closer to where people live and providing specialist care in world-class facilities.”
The Minister said Western Australia’s public hospitals cared for hundreds of thousands of patients every year and the number was growing.
In 2003-2004, our hospitals treated 438,024 cases, with 302,703 - about 70 per cent - of these treated in metropolitan hospitals.
Emergency department presentations are also increasing. In 2003-04 there were 337,711 presentations - an eight per cent increase since 2001-2002.
“Although the metropolitan hospitals are coping with demand at the moment, our population is growing and spreading, so health care needs to be directed to the areas of growth,” Mr McGinty said.
“There are also two tertiary hospitals - Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth - within just a few kilometres of each other, duplicating some clinical services.
“More than 80 per cent of admissions to tertiary hospitals in Perth are estimated to be for secondary care such as obstetrics, endoscopies and aged care. Many of these patients could be treated in larger general hospitals.
“To provide the best possible patient care for the future, we need to do things differently.”
The Minister said the planned changes would also improve safety, quality, workforce numbers, sustainability and efficiency in our health system.
“Starting next week, there will be an extensive two-month consultation, which will give everyone in the health system the chance to shape the future of our clinical services,” he said.
The consultation phase will cover all key stakeholders including clinical staff, unions, professional associations and key Government departments.
It is anticipated that the Clinical Services Plan will be released in July.
Minister's office: 9220 5000
