- Additional funding for hospital services, to unlock beds and deliver commitments to improve our health system
- $60.5 million to expand WA Virtual Emergency Department and extend service to children
- $24 million to deliver 60 hospital beds in Perth's north
- Further $18.5 million boost for regional Patient Assisted Travel Scheme
- Improving specialist access with $8.2 million GP ASK pilot
- Reducing barriers to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder care with $1.2million support package
- Driving medical innovation with $40 million towards Perth Biomedical Precinct
- Funding boosts for Dementia Action Plan, Australian Breastfeeding Association WA
The Cook Labor Government is delivering on its vision to enhance access to Western Australia's world-class health system, with a $1.4 billion funding boost to hospital services unlocking more beds and progressing major election commitments.
Coupled with a $3.2 billion infrastructure pipeline which will add hundreds of new beds to the system on top of more than 800 beds delivered over the past four years, this investment will ensure all Western Australians receive the care they need, when they need it - no matter if they live in the suburbs, regional centres or remote communities.
As part of a $60.5 million expansion of the WA Virtual Emergency Department, Western Australians who can't access their local general practitioner (GP) can now be referred directly to a specialist emergency consult from the comfort of their home thanks to a Healthdirect partnership launched in May.
The investment will also establish three Older Adult Care Hubs and extend the WA Virtual Emergency Department service to children, meaning concerned parents who call Healthdirect may be eligible for an online consult with a senior emergency doctor - reducing the stress of an emergency department (ED) presentation on both parent and child, and easing the number of patients at our hospital EDs.
The State Government is also making it cheaper and easier for families to access attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) care without needing to go to a psychiatrist or paediatrician by paving the way for GPs to diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication.
This will be done through trialling specialist support for GPs while they expand their scope of practice.
In addition, $1.2 million willbe provided to ADHD WA for vital support, information, and wraparound services for children and adolescents with ADHD, as well as their parents and carers.
The biggest-ever expansion of the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme will also be delivered through a fuel subsidy increase from 26 cents to 40 cents per kilometre, funded through an investment of $18.5 million through this Budget and a commitment to expand eligibility criteria at an additional $15.5 million.
The scheme subsidises the cost of accommodation and fuel for more than 35,000 regional Western Australians who need to travel for medical treatment.
The Cook Labor Government is also investing in other key priorities across the WA health system, including:
- $3.2 billion in capital funding for health infrastructure projects over the next four years, which will deliver 592 additional new beds to the health system;
- $24 million to fit out 60 beds at Joondalup Health Campus;
- $24.9 million to continue the successful rollout of nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios, which will see ratios of one nurse to every four patients during the day and one nurse to every seven patients at night;
- $1.3 million for a pilot program to expand pharmacist scope of practice, building on the success of the recent expansion to include urinary tract infection treatment and the oral contraceptive pill;
- $5.2 million to fund start-up costs for 219 additional Hospital in the Home beds, bringing the total to 296, which allows patients to be treated in the comfort of their own home instead of a hospital setting;
- $4.9 million to deliver an additional 30 beds under the Time to Think program, bringing the total to 65, which provides a place for older Western Australians waiting in hospital for aged care placement;
- $8.2 million in funding towards a pilot of GP ASK, allowing GPs to communicate directly with a WA Health specialist on behalf of their patients, reducing the need for referrals and ED visits and saving patients time, stress and money;
- $40 million to strengthen the WA ecosystem through the development of a Perth Biomedical Precinct;
- $6 million for the Clinical Trials Coordination Program to translate world-class scientific discoveries into real benefits for the WA community;
- $1 million towards introducing the State's first Dementia Action Plan, with dementia training and education for hospital staff, a review of existing services and a public campaign to support dementia care; and
- $850,000 will go towards the Australian Breastfeeding Association WA to improve support services for breastfeeding mothers.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"We want to make WA the healthiest state in the nation - and that's what this Budget will help deliver.
"We know our State's growing population has put pressure on our hospitals.
"That's why my government is laser-focused on investing in health so that all Western Australians, no matter where they live, can access the care they need, when they need it.
"These access-focused health initiatives are part of the greater $1.4 billion invested in health initiatives in this Budget, as well as the $3.2 billion investment in health infrastructure over the next four years."
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"Improving access to our world-class health system is a key focus for our government, and that's exactly what we're delivering with this State Budget.
"We're reducing pressure on our emergency departments, increasing hospital bed capacity and treating more people at home or in the community through initiatives such as WAVED, Older Adult Care Hubs, Hospital in the Home and Time to Think.
"We're improving care and patient outcomes through the continued rollout of nurse-to-patient ratios, the GP ASK pilot program and ADHD support package.
"And we're ensuring regional Western Australians can access the specialist medical care they need, without the financial burden travel can present, through our increase to PATS.
"No matter where you live in our vast State, this Budget funds greater access to the care you need, when you need it."
As stated by Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey:
"This is an infrastructure-heavy Budget for health - delivering world-class facilities, more hospital beds and, ultimately, better health outcomes for all of us.
"We are focused on delivering this important infrastructure to support a healthy future for Western Australians."
As stated by Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton:
"Preventative health is one of the smartest investments we can make for the wellbeing of our community.
"This Budget builds on the Cook Government's commitment to prevention, better access, and making sure people are healthy at every stage of life.
"We will continue to support initiatives, such as the nation-leading RSV immunisation program for infants, that help prevent illness and reduce demand on hospitals in the short and long-term."
As stated by Aged Care and Seniors Minister Simone McGurk:
"I am pleased to focus on older Western Australians in this State Budget, with 4.9 million to deliver an additional 30 beds under the Time to Think program, bringing the total to 65 which provides a place for older Western Australians waiting in hospital for an aged care placement.
"The Older Aged Care Hubs will be a great addition to the mix of health care and support options for Western Australians."
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
"We have a thriving world-class medical research and health innovation ecosystem in Western Australia, and the additional investment for the Perth Biomedical Precint and the Clinical Trials Coordination Program will ensure we're developing medical breakthroughs, improving health outcomes and diversifying the WA economy through advanced manufacturing for decades to come.
"This Perth Manufacturing Precinct will put Perth and Western Australia on the map for biomedical breakthroughs globally and builds on our investments in the WA ecosystem through the Murray Street Biomedical Launchpad and the UWA QEII Biomedical Precinct.
"Australia is also seen as an attractive place for running clinical trials and the roadmap will encourage global pharmaceutical companies and related industries to invest and operate in WA supporting diversification in our economy.
"Clinical trials are an essential component of high-performing health systems, and the program will empower clinical trial teams to access and deliver new treatments to patients."
