Dr Kyle Hoath, who took up the role of AMA (WA) President a few weeks ago has laid out his plans for the role and shared with Medical Forum the issues he raised with the Health Minister in his first meeting as head of the association.
MF: Why did you put your hand up for the role of AMA (WA) President?
DR HOATH: I’ve always been driven by community service through advocacy. I joined the AMA (WA) as a medical student because I wanted to speak up for medical students and doctors, and patients who deserve better. Over the years on the AMA (WA) Council, including as Vice President, I’ve seen just how much work still needs to be done to strengthen our system, especially in mental health. As a psychiatrist who has worked across public and private practice, I see daily the barriers that stand in people’s way when they need care the most. Stepping up as President felt like the right way to push for real change. I believe this role has the power to hold the system to account and help shape a future where our patients and our profession get the support they need and deserve.
MF: What are your long-term priorities in this role?
DR HOATH: My vision rests on three foundations. First, we need to make sure every Western Australian can get care when they need it, regardless of where they live. That means tackling ramping, boosting hospital capacity, and making mental health support actually accessible. Second, we have to strengthen and keep our medical workforce. More training places, better working conditions for junior doctors, fair pay, and opportunities to build a career here in WA, not interstate. Third, we must invest properly in prevention. That means getting serious about tackling issues like obesity, smoking, alcohol harm, and the mental health crisis at their roots. It’s smarter, more cost-effective, and most importantly keeps people healthier for longer.
MF: Have you met with the Health Minister since taking up the role and what are three issues you raised or plan to raise?
DR HOATH: Yes, I’ve already had the chance to sit down with Health & Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat and we had a really constructive conversation. The first issue I raised was the urgent need to increase capacity and reduce pressure on our hospitals, which means more beds, more doctors, nurses and allied health, and more community-based services. Secondly, we talked about workforce shortages, particularly outside the metropolitan area. We need real investment to attract and keep rural doctors including GPs, generalists, and other specialists, so people don’t have to travel for hours just to see a doctor. Thirdly, I emphasised the need for a stronger focus on prevention and mental health. We have a Minister for Preventative Health now and I think that’s a huge opportunity. I want to see us move beyond band-aid solutions and invest in keeping people well before they reach crisis point. All of this is about working with government but not shying away from highlighting what’s missing.
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MF: How has the medical fraternity found the sharing of health responsibilities between multiple state government ministers since the election?
DR HOATH: There’s been cautious optimism about the team approach. Having multiple ministers acknowledges that health is massive, and that mental health and prevention deserve dedicated focus. Many doctors have said it could bring fresh energy to areas that have struggled for too long. Of course, this only works if there’s clear coordination. As President, I’ll be keeping a close eye on how the ministers work together, so gaps don’t open up between portfolios. We will continue to support good collaboration, but we’ll speak up if things fall through the cracks.
MF: Where do you think WA needs to improve most in terms of preventative health?
DR HOATH: Prevention is a huge part of why I wanted this role. We spend so much money treating preventable illness when we should be tackling it at the source. Smoking, vaping, alcohol harm and poor mental health drive too many of our health problems. WA can and should lead the nation in smart public health – but it takes real investment and follow-through, not just words. I’m keen to sit down with Minister Sabine Winton, who now holds the Education, Early Childhood and Preventative Health portfolios. I want us to build practical programs that reach people early in schools, families, and communities. That’s where we get the biggest health gains and the best value for taxpayers too.
MF: Your predecessor repeatedly spoke about a shortage of hospital beds in WA. How many more do we need?
DR HOATH: The numbers can vary but the bottom line is clear: WA has the lowest ratio of public hospital beds per capita in the country, and it shows. We’re at least 600 beds short just to match the national average and that’s before you factor in the growing population and extra demands on mental health and aged care. So realistically we need hundreds more beds plus the doctors, nurses and allied health staff to run them properly. Our private hospitals do a great job, but they can’t plug that gap alone. If we want to end ramping and waitlists, we need to stop pretending we can do more with less. We need to plan now and get building.
MF: What more can be done to ensure the private health system remains viable?
DR HOATH: Our private hospitals and practices take huge pressure off the public system, especially for elective surgery and specialist care. But they need to stay viable. That means fair funding and better collaboration between government, private providers and insurers. We need policies that help specialists stay in private practice without being buried in red tape and costs. It’s also about making sure patients can afford to use their private cover when they want to. I want us to work with the private sector as genuine partners, because when private and public work well together, the whole community benefits.
MF: Are you comfortable with how the Expedited Specialist Pathway has been operating to serve WA?
DR HOATH: In principle, yes. Bringing more qualified overseas specialists to WA is a good step, especially in fields like psychiatry, anaesthesia and obstetrics where we have clear shortages. It’s early days but I want to make sure those doctors feel supported once they arrive and that they actually take up positions where they’re needed most, including in our regions. This is one part of fixing workforce gaps, but it needs to be backed up by local training and retention too.
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MF: What steps should the state and federal governments be taking to meet the shortfall of GPs in WA?
DR HOATH: It’s no secret WA needs more GPs. We can’t keep expecting rural councils to pay huge subsidies to get just one doctor to town. Both the state and federal governments should share that responsibility by providing practical incentives like housing support, relocation help and fair remuneration. We also need to expand GP training places and make it easier for registrars to do placements in regional and remote WA and stay there. We should respect general practice as a specialty and pay GPs fairly for the complex work, they do. At the end of the day, strong primary care keeps people out of hospital and that benefits everyone.
MF: With the federal government funding health and the state delivering it, what could work better?
DR HOATH: Everyone knows the split can be messy. Funding and delivery don’t always line up, and the cracks show up in long waiting lists and clunky hand-offs. We need better integration. That means the State and Commonwealth working together on funding models that reward keeping people healthy, not just treating them when they’re sick. We also need to invest in good data systems that let GPs and hospitals share information quickly and safely. And we should have regular forums that bring clinicians to the table, so the people doing the work can shape the solutions.
MF: How is work with the state government on the GP ASK program going?
DR HOATH: The GP ASK pilot is a great example of the system trying to join the dots. It’s early days but so far, it’s promising. Giving GPs fast access to specialist advice helps them manage patients in the community and can stop people ending up in hospital unnecessarily. We’ll keep working with the Government to make sure the program stays practical and easy to use. If it works, we’d love to see it expand to more specialties and regions so that every GP has a real-time safety net when they need it.
MF: How would you rate the WA health system as it is today?
DR HOATH: I’d say our system is functional but fragile. It’s held up by the dedication of our workforce, but that’s not enough on its own. If we want a health system that’s genuinely world class and sustainable, we can’t keep patching holes and hoping for the best. We need real planning, proper capacity and investment, and we need to fix the root causes so that every West Australian can get care when they need it.
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