01-08-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Horror flu season creating ‘bottleneck' in stretched WA health system
'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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