Surgical patients at Midland’s new hospital have had their operations deferred following a 45 per cent increase in demand for services, the Health Minister has said.
In response to questions from the Opposition, Health Minister John Day confirmed to Parliament some “less urgent elective surgeries” had been rescheduled
Mr Day said there had been an increase of about 45 per cent in healthcare activity at St John of God Midland Public Hospital, compared with previous activity at the now closed Swan Districts Hospital.
But he said even with the surgical delays, patients were being properly treated.
“I am confident that elective surgery is being delivered within appropriate timeframes and that patients are receiving quality care,” he said.
Opposition Health spokesman Roger Cook said it was another example of the price patients were paying for the Barnett Government’s poor financial management.
“This means that the Government has completely mismanaged the state’s finances, particularly in health, and as a result of that patients are going without their operations,” he said.
“Now St John of God, who are the private operators of that hospital, asked for extra cash to make sure these patients could get these operation. The Government said no.
“So this is a clear case of the Government prioritising their budget mismanagement over the needs of WA patients.”
Minister and hospital to discuss growing number of patients
The Midland Hospital was built as a public-private partnership with St John of God and was officially opened by Premier Colin Barnett in November last year.
The 305-bed hospital was designed to cater for Perth’s growing eastern suburbs, with St John of God operating the public hospital under contract from the State Government.
But in his responses to Parliament, the Health Minister said St John of God had sought a meeting with the Minister to discuss its operations.
“The Minister is aware the volume of patients and activity in the first seven months will be raised at this meeting,” the Minister said.
But the Minister reiterated the Government’s position that health costs need to be constrained.
“It should be noted that all publicly funded hospitals are expected to manage demand for their services within the funds provided to them,” he said.
“The St John of God Midland Public Hospital is no exception.”