COVID-19 Hospital Response

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:31): Yes, it was a supplementary. How many COVID-ready beds or what capacity does the Women's and Children's Hospital have today for COVID cases?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:31): I thank the honourable member for her question, because the Women's and Children's Hospital has been involved in decisive investments to help it be ready for the COVID environment. On 30 August, which I seem to think is about two months ago, the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service was established. That enables non-urgent consumers to access high-quality and timely care by an emergency doctor and nurse from the comfort of their own home. This service is supporting hospital avoidance for lower acuity presentations and easing demand on the Women's and Children's Hospital paediatric emergency department—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I have a presumption that the Hon. Ms Bonaros would like to hear this answer, and I am struggling with it because of the opposition.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The reality is that that provides an opportunity for COVID-safe care for children and adolescents in their own home or, for that matter, wherever they might be, out beyond the paediatric emergency department. We have also been very keen to work with GPs in terms of trying to support them to refer their patients to the Women's and Children's Hospital. We have seen a significant shift in terms of GP referrals—from GPs, taking their own paediatric cases and they are referring them to the Women's and Children's Hospital. So work is being done to manage that demand too.

In terms of the Women's and Children's Hospital, as I have already mentioned, there is an investment going on to deal with infrastructure needs to improve the air conditioning there. That will mean that there will be more facilities in the Women's and Children's Hospital that will be able to better care for COVID positive patients.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Mr President—

The PRESIDENT: No, the time for questions has expired.