New data shows West Australians in need of urgent care at emergency departments are experiencing the worst wait times in the country. The Liberals have latched onto the data, while spruiking an election promise to offer nursing students cash incentives.
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00:00When Doris Ross developed deep vein thrombosis last July, her GP sent her straight to emergency.
00:11She waited 12 hours to be seen.
00:14Of course we were concerned and she, because she's not able to move by herself, she was
00:18sitting in a wheelchair for 12 hours without being able to go to the toilet.
00:21New data from the Productivity Commission shows fewer than half of WA's ED presentations
00:26were seen within the recommended time frame last financial year.
00:30Wait times varied depending on the triage level.
00:33While most patients in need of resuscitation and emergency care were seen on time, just
00:3832% of those needing urgent care were.
00:42The government is blaming a shortage of bulk billing GPs.
00:46If people can't get in to see their GP, if they can't afford to see their GP, they will
00:51simply go to the local ED.
00:53Now, if they have an urgent need, they'll be seen on time and in a clinically appropriate
00:57period of time.
00:58But Dr Vanessa Claydon says it's about a shortage of beds.
01:02I think the community are getting better and better at making those choices and so by and
01:07large the people waiting in an emergency waiting room are people that need emergency care.
01:12Libby Metham says if elected, the Liberals will pay nursing students up to $20,000 to
01:17study and work in WA.
01:19$12,000 during the course of the nursing degree, as well as $7,500 after two years
01:29of working in the public hospital system.
01:34In Collie, Labor was also talking jobs, teaming up with Tesla to construct a new facility
01:39for servicing and repairing batteries.
01:42Up to 50 local workers can be employed here.
01:45With four weeks to go, new polling shows Labor on track for another decisive victory,
01:51with the Liberals making only small inroads after their disastrous 2021 campaign.