The WA Government has announced $40 million for WA Health to deliver the equivalent of 6,000 additional elective surgeries and procedures, with the WA public health system smashing all-time records for elective surgery in three out of the past six months.
- Major investment equivalent to 6,000 additional elective surgeries and procedures for Western Australians.
- Mid-Year Review provides $40 million to reduce elective surgery waitlists.
- Significant boost part of the Cook Government’s suite of system-wide reform that has reduced elective surgery waitlists by 8,600 patients.
Significant system-wide reform over the past two years has enabled the surge in elective surgery to take place, resulting in 8,600 fewer patients on the elective surgeries waitlist and the extra funding for 2023-24 will be made available through the Mid-Year Review.
Premier Roger Cook said that this will ensure hospitals are well placed to continue reducing elective surgery waiting lists through innovative strategies such as weekend theatre utilisation, twilight procedures, and use of contemporary methods that reduce the time patients need to spend in hospital.
“The $40 million boost will mean thousands more Western Australians can be scheduled for surgery in the next 6 months,” Mr Cook said.
“We have proactively identified and are tackling inefficiencies across the health system. We won’t leave a stone unturned when it comes to strengthening our health system and helping patients with the care they need.”
“I thank all our hard-working healthcare workers who ensure Western Australians can access worldclass surgery when they need it,” WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.
“Our $489.9 million emergency care package to improve access to care and system-wide reform has reduced ramping hours, and enabled beds to be freed up so that we can undertake these additional 6,000 elective surgeries and procedures.”
Part of the system reform includes extra weekend services and more step-down care options to support older Western Australians transition from hospitals and back into the community.
The Cook Government has also delivered an additional 571 beds since the 202122 Budget, the equivalent of a new tertiary hospital and employed additional staff, including more than 1,000 nurses since June last year and medical staff has been increased by more than 600.
The State Government will also roll out new arrangements from early next year to facilitate better utilisation of private hospital capacity, with a new panel to make it simpler, faster, and more competitive.