Latest news with #Hammat
West Australian
5 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Jessica Page: WA has the country's lowest flu vaccination rate putting the vulnerable at risk
There's something in the air — winter. And our hospitals are not ready for it. They're barely coping now. Plenty of blame can be, and has been, shared around on that score. And it's my turn to cop a bit. And probably only fair that the Health Minister dish it out. Rightly under pressure over yet another month of record ramping, Meredith Hammat insisted it is a nationwide issue and that the State Government is throwing everything at it. She also said there is something everyone can do to help. 'The United States just experienced its worst flu season in 16 years and we've used that information to prepare for the additional demand this winter will likely bring to WA,' Ms Hammat said. 'Please, if you haven't done so already, get your free flu vaccination and protect yourself and your loved ones this winter'. The Premier must have been listening. Over the weekend, a photo of Roger Cook dutifully getting his jab at the local pharmacy was posted on his social media accounts with a timely reminder that the vaccine is only free in WA until the end of this month. But it was another photo that brought me to tears and made me chastise myself for not yet booking my kids in for their jabs. It was a photo of a two-year-old boy hooked up to a ventilator due to influenza. His mother Hannah Elsey reported that he was previously healthy, with no medical conditions, but fell ill a couple of weeks before an appointment to get vaccinated. 'Luckily he survived and has made a full recovery, but I don't think I will ever fully recover from the trauma,' she said. That social media post reached me all the way from Sudbury in the U.K. but it is relevant here and now, with warnings that a dire flu season in the United Kingdom and the United States is a harbinger of what is to come. The UK Health Security Agency has reported Influenza-mortality for the 2024-25 winter of about 7,800, up 53 per cent on the previous year. Most were people aged over 65, but the deaths of eight children aged four and under, were blamed on the flu. It's already taking a toll in WA, as reported by vaccine advocate Catherine Hughes who knows what she's talking about — all too well. 'Today was hard,' she posted on Light for Riley, the Facebook page set up in her son's name. 'I met with a beautiful mum who, just a couple of weeks ago, unexpectedly lost her young daughter to influenza. 'Before winter even began. Her gorgeous girl is just… gone. Please, if you can protect your kids… do it!' Too many have not. WA's flu vaccination rates this year are the worst in the country. Only 12.3 per cent of 0-4 year olds have been vaccinated, equal last with South Australia. The Vics are the best of the States at 18.8 per cent. Surely we can't let them win two flags this year? (Putting aside the territories, lest I admit the bureaucrats in the ACT have won anything.) Even our seniors are lagging, with only 50 per cent of the over-65s vaccinated. In a supposed cost of living crisis, surely anything that's free would generate a rush to line up longer than the fro yo queues that jam the footpath in Vic Park on a Friday night? But it is easier said than done for two working parents to find the time. Then when you do, one or both kids are already sick with something else and its back to waiting for a gap in the calendar. Western Australia has a troubled history with the flu vaccine, in particular, that does warrant caution. But caution should not be mistaken for conspiracies. Check the label, make sure you're being given the vaccine that's recommended for kids (VaxiGrip Tetra or FluQuadri) and ask your doctor if you have any questions. I'm no doctor, so I'll leave the last word to someone who is better qualified: PCH Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and Kids Institute researcher Chris Blyth. 'We know that vaccines are the most cost effective public health intervention that we have,' Dr Blyth said. 'We know that vaccines do save lives and we know the vaccines that are on the schedule have been demonstrated to be safe and effective.' They're not a 100 per cent guarantee, but up to 70 per cent effective is better than naught. 'It's a moderately protective vaccine, but we know that flu can be a very severe disease and any level of protection certainly translates to people keeping out of hospital,' Dr Blyth said. Hospital staff are counting on that.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
State Government yet to confirm if funding for Geraldton RFDS base will be included in next month's Budget
The State Government is remaining coy about funding for a Geraldton base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in its upcoming Budget. One of Labor's commitments ahead of the State election was to provide $7.5 million for a local RFDS base, which at the time was estimated to be about half the required amount to deliver the facility. In Parliament on Tuesday, Geraldton MLA Kirrilee Warr put the question to Health Minister Meredith Hammat, asking what the status of the project was, whether the minister was aware of the cost, and why the Government was 'short-changing this critically important regional health facility'. In response, Ms Hammat acknowledged it was an important election commitment, but said the details would be revealed in next month's State Budget. 'All of our election commitments are subject to the budget process,' she said. 'The Budget will be handed down in this place in June and we will have more to say about it then.' When asked if the full amount would be delivered as part of the Budget, Ms Hammat said the State Government was proud of the commitment to deliver, but needed to respect the budget process. Ms Warr urged the State Government to provide a clear update on the project. 'While the health minister hides behind the State Budget process, other ministers have already started promoting election commitments, such as the country week assistance program and the new Burswood Park entertainment precinct, well in advance of the Budget,' Ms Warr said. 'Ever since the election campaign ended, it appears WA Labor no longer views the RFDS base in Geraldton as a priority, despite the urgent need for this project.' Ms Hammat has been contacted for further comment.
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
State Government, Nationals remain firm on respective stances on handling of Gascoyne Dash in Carnarvon
Nationals WA leader Shane Love has discussed the Carnarvon Hospital closure on the weekend of the Gascoyne Dash in Parliament, with the State Government denying the WA Country Health Service requested the event should be cancelled. Last month, the popular motorcycle event had to be abandoned after multiple people were admitted to Carnarvon Hospital leaving no further capacity in the event of any injuries. Mr Love at the time slammed the handling of the situation, calling it 'disgraceful'. In Parliament last week, the Mid-West MLA brought up the issue, asking Health Minister Meredith Hammat whether she was aware of WACHS had notice of the event, whether a contact either with WACHS or the hospital contacted the Gascoyne Off Road Racing Club asking for the Sunday to be cancelled, and why the service did not make timely provision of capacity at the hospital for the event. Mr Love said the State Government had failed to accommodate for the event, which was key for tourism in Carnarvon. 'WACHS failed to adequately prepare Carnarvon hospital for the anticipated demand even though they were present at a Critical Incident Meeting along with WAPOL in the week prior,' he said. 'The Minister for Health attempted to deflect responsibility for the cancellation of the event — however it is abundantly clear organisers acted in response to WACHS recommendations.' In response, Ms Hammat said precautions had been made to cater for the event. 'The Carnarvon hospital on the weekend in question when the Gascoyne Dash was held was fully staffed and also had additional rostered medical staff in preparation for the event,' she said. 'It is important to note that there were 10 trauma presentations in a two-hour period as a consequence of the Gascoyne Dash event. 'Two of those people were so seriously injured that they needed to be stabilised in Carnarvon before they were airlifted to Perth to receive the emergency treatment that they required.' Ms Hammat said WACHS did not request the event should be cancelled. However, Gascoyne Off Road Racing Club president Ben Breoder alleges otherwise, saying he received a call from a WACHS staff member. According to Mr Breoder, the staff member said, 'You have overwhelmed the emergency department — you're going to have to stop the race. The hospital is in a code brown situation, we are unable to take in any further patients. The emergency department is full, and the wards are full.' Ms Hammat denied there was poor preparation for the event when asked in Parliament, saying the hospital was fully staffed, and additional staff had been rostered on to assist.
