3 months ago
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Western Australia’s peak medical union says the state’s horror flu season is stretching health resources to their maximum, with case numbers set to reach their highest in nearly five years.
Ambulances have been ramped at the state’s hospitals for a total of more than 7000 hours this month, and flu cases have totalled nearly 15,000.
Ambulance ramping hours are high, reflecting pressure on WA’s health system from several fronts.
The Department of Health said while influenza notifications remain stable in the past week, and in the upper range of values usually reported at this time of year.
Earlier this month, cases jumped by 20 per cent in just a week and about 2000 cases required hospitalisation.
Australian Medical Association WA branch president Dr Kyle Hoath said ramping figures indicated a broader problem in the state’s health system.
Dr Kyle Hoath.Credit: AMA
“I’ve seen 7000 hours of ramping this month, which is a new record, and we’re not surprised,” he said.
“We’ve seen this coming, we’ve been warning this will happen.
“We know what the problem is: we need more beds.
“We are at capacity. We don’t have the beds to manage people coming into our health sector. It’s our loved ones, it’s our friends, it’s our family.
“Spending 7000 hours waiting, waiting to get through the front door of the emergency department. That’s not okay.”
Hoath said the issue predated COVID-19, and it was time to use facilities like hotels and private hospitals to boost capacity.
Department of Health director general Dr Shirley Bowen conceded WA’s health system was under pressure.
“Ambulance ramping is one of the most visible challenges facing our health system, and those around the nation, and we take it very seriously,” she said.
“There is no one ’cause’, there are many factors which contribute to demand, including high levels of winter respiratory illness, and issues such as road trauma, mental health and drug-related presentations.”
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Bowen said WA’s ageing population and “complex patient presentations” had made an impact, as well as the flu season.
“We’re looking at how we can help elderly people in a hospital bed awaiting aged care. As a result, new models of care are being planned and implemented,” she said.
Opposition leader Basil Zempilas said the latest ambulance ramping figures were “shocking and horrifying”.
“The health authorities have waved the white flag,” he said.
“If they were to truly attack this from every angle they might come to their senses and forget about film studios, forget about rugby teams, stop prioritising train lines, forget about public holidays and throw every resource and every available person at tackling this crisis.
“There is nothing more important for a government to be doing on behalf of the people that they govern for than looking after their health, the elderly, the young families, those who are ill, those who potentially are gravely at risk.”
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