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AMA WA ACTION AGENDA

FUNDING & RESOURCING

612 more public hospital beds

WHAT WE WANT

An increase in public hospital bed capacity to ensure WA achieves at least the national average. An additional 612 fully resourced hospital beds are needed, which will require more doctors, nurses and allied health workers.

WHY WE WANT IT

WA has the lowest number of public hospital beds per person in Australia, equivalent to:

  •  612 beds fewer than Australia’s national average.
  • 772 beds fewer than Queensland’s public hospital system.
  • 852 beds fewer than New South Wales’ public hospital system.

This chronic shortage of hospital beds in WA has led to growing waiting lists for access to elective surgery, overcrowded emergency departments unable to cope with expected demand and unacceptable delays in access to emergency care.

Bed shortages result in an increased risk to workforce wellbeing and cause avoidable patient deterioration and death.

WHEN IT’S DONE

A public hospital system without workforce shortages and working within optimal occupancy rates. This will reduce ambulance ramping, produce better health outcomes for patients and make WA’s public hospitals safer.

BACK TO ACTION AGENDA

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

  • On 9 September 2021, the McGowan Government in its State Budget for 2021-22 committed to 332 new beds opening across WA hospitals (223 general, 109 mental health). Upgrades as part of the $1.3 billion infrastructure spend added a further 314 hospital beds,
    for a total of 646 beds.<
  • On 5 November 2021, the State Government announced a further 270 beds to be brought into the system within one year.
  • The total number of new beds planned by the Government now stands at 916 beds.

AMA (WA) ACTION AGENDA

612 more public hospital beds Health budget increase of 5-6% p.a. for 4 years Save WA’s emergency departments from collapse
Amend Health Services Act to better support doctors A Fair Go: Job Security For Senior Doctors A Fair Go: Portability & Retention Of Entitlements For Doctors Legal privilege for healthcare workers during investigations
State-wide electronic medical record Enhanced services and clinical governance at new women and babies hospital Improved telehealth services and capacity
GP Primary Care Taskforce Independent review of WA Health Corporate Governance Decision-making transparency
Interim quarantine facility Best-practice workplace safety & improved processes to prevent COVID breaches Commonwealth quarantine facility