Legislative Council Thursday 24 June, 2021

Ms RATTRAY, on behalf of Ms FORREST, question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to patient accommodation at the North West Regional Hospital;

1. What accommodation options are available for patients, including antenatal, and their support person/s who live a significant distance from the NWRH, such as Circular Head, King Island and the West Coast, and need to be close to the hospital for care;

2. Were any of these units repurposed during the COVID outbreak and following period;

a. If so how many; and

b. What are they currently being used for?

3. How many of the purpose-built on-site accommodation units are currently available;

4. Is the number of available units adequate to meet demand; and

a. If not, will more be constructed and in what time frame?

5. What is the current process for applying to stay in these units; and

a. Is there a prioritisation process?
 
Answered by: Leonie Hiscutt, Leader of the Government

Answers:

1. There are ten (10) short-stay accommodation units available to patients and families/visitors on the NWRH campus.

2. No accommodation units used by patients and families/visitors were repurposed during the 2020 COVID outbreak or in the following year.

3. As of 25 May 2021, five out of the 10 patient and family units were available (3 two-bedroom units and 2 one-bedroom studios).

Whilst bookings can be made in advance, where future treatment is planned, most bookings are made concurrently with care being required, for the following 24 to 48 hours.

4. The number of accommodation units meet current demand (i.e. it is rare that the accommodation units are fully booked). As a result, there are no plans for further construction.

5. Bookings are made via Reception at North West Regional Hospital.

In rare instances where demand for accommodation exceeds capacity, clinical staff (social worker/s and/or senior nurse/s) assist with identifying patients and/or families whose accommodation needs could be met by other local providers, relative to families whose circumstances necessitate on-site accommodation.