Leaked Email Exposes Winter Surge Plan

Just weeks after the release of the Labor Government’s Winter Strategy, a leaked email

obtained by the Opposition has revealed serious concerns from medical professionals

about the plan’s impact on patients.

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Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the intended closure of two operating

theatres at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was considered by clinicians to

disproportionately impact patients in need of complex elective surgery.

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“The wheels are coming off the Cook Government’s winter surge plan before winter has

even begun,” Ms Mettam said.

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“First, we discovered the hospital system was already under more pressure than last

year, with February ambulance ramping hitting a new record.

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“Then last month Health Minister Meredith Hammat claimed she “misspoke” when she

admitted 200 additional beds at Mount Lawley was really just 100 beds.

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“Now we learn patients waiting for surgery could be pushed aside so theatres can be

converted into flu wards.”

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The leaked email comes as the WA Australian Medical Association’s annual Public

Hospital Report Card, released yesterday, warned the system was “creaking under the

weight of its capacity needs”.

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The damning findings show three of the four indicators monitored for WA’s public

hospitals were worse or unchanged compared with the previous year, and the national

average. Ms Mettam said surgeons were deeply frustrated and patients facing further

delays would be even more concerned.

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“This will have a significant impact on patients, many of whom are in pain with their

lives on hold on a waitlist that has blown out by 47.5 per cent since 2017,” she said.

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Ms Mettam said the question had to be asked whether other hospitals were also being

told to close theatres or wards over winter.

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“We constantly hear the Premier and Treasurer boasting that Western Australia is the

wealthiest state in the nation, yet by almost every measure we have the worst

performing public hospitals in the country,” she said.

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Ms Mettam said the reality of the crisis could be seen in cases like 88-year-old Elsie

Gribben, who spent more than two days in a hospital corridor at Midland Public

Hospital waiting for proper care.

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“Elsie’s daughter Sue said it best; ‘our elderly citizens deserve dignity, care and access

to appropriate facilities when they are unwell’,” Ms Mettam said.

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“Sue also acknowledged the incredible work being done by the nursing staff despite

working under extraordinary pressure.

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“It’s extremely concerning to think how many more stories like Elsie’s we could see in

our hospitals as the flu season approaches.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: Graham Mason | 0419 194 792

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