MEDICUS May 2022

Last year the AMA (WA) painted a grim picture of our State’s health system through its Action Agenda, a 15-point plan detailing practical measures that could help arrest system decline. We had since felt encouraged by the McGowan Government’s response to some of those issues, which included the reopening of some previously closed beds, the establishment of a GP Primary Care Taskforce, a Corporate Governance Review of WA Health, and developing enhanced services and effective clinical governance at the new Women and Babies Hospital. “The State Budget represented an important opportunity to address the outstanding concerns outlined in the Action Agenda, but yet again, Western Australian patients and healthcare workers have been short-changed,” Dr Duncan- Smith said. “The AMA (WA) is keen to work closely with the Government and the Department of Health towards building up our health system into one all Western Australians deserve.” ■ The 2022-23 State Budget was presented by the Premier and Treasurer Mark McGowan, with a $5.7 billion surplus. The centrepiece of the Budget was said to be measures to reduce the cost of living, including a $400 electricity credit for households. The 2022-23 WA Health budget, at $11.18 billion, represents a 3.23 per cent decrease in operational spending on the 2021-22 Estimated Actual Spending. NB: This figure is somewhat obscured by the way COVID- 19 funding has been represented in the budget. Removing COVID-19 spending from budget materials, this year’s budget represents a 3.3 per cent increase in operational spending. CPI being 4 per cent for the 2021-22 financial year, and a forecasted 2.75 per cent for 2022-23, there is minimal functional growth in operational spend. In our 2021 Action Agenda , the AMA (WA) asked for a 5-6 per cent increase per annum for the next four years in addition to inflation. The Weighted Activity Unit (WAU) price set for admitted services for 2022-23 is $7,314, up from an actual price of $7,229 for 2021-22. The MHC budget, at $1.26 billion, has increased by 13 per cent on the 2021-22 Actual Spend. What’s in it for you! Doctors may find the following issues relevant to their area of practice: WA Health A $252 million package to address emergency patient flow, including $55.8 million for ED waiting room nurses across the State. $74.1 million to expand options for discharging long-stay inpatients. A $14.1 million investment in a specialist team of doctors and nurses for neonatal intensive care during transport. An investment of $10 million for the GRaFT project (Graylands Reconfiguration and Forensics Taskforce). An investment of $4.4 million for Electronic Medical Record projects. An additional $49.4 million for the Geraldton Health Campus Redevelopment project. $750,000 to go towards the development of a Paediatric Eating Disorders Unit at Perth Children’s Hospital. An increase of $3.67 million for implementation of the Aboriginal Health Practitioners in the WA Health Workforce project. $458.4 million for RAT purchases and distribution costs. $5.5 million invested in paid paramedics for regional areas. Mental Health Commission $10.8 million to extend the Active Recovery Teams pilot and CAMHS Emergency Telehealth. $18.5 million for 11.6 FTE in regional Infant, Children and Adolescent (ICA) mental health. $14 million for this financial year for the ICA Taskforce implementation, including: { $3 million for planning and service design { $1.3 million for peer workers { $4.3 million for relieving immediate rural and remote pressures { $4.4 million for virtual support and at-risk children waiting for a service. $5 million allocated to continue the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service. ‘Community bed-based services’ increasing by $16 million over the next four years. Step-up Step-down services to be constructed in Broome, Karratha, and South Hedland. $1.3 million for mental health workforce development over the next two years. Key budget takeaways M AY 2 0 2 2 M E D I C U S 15 S T A T E B U D G E T