Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney representing the Minister for Health a question about Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: The government has quietly set about opening more beds at the Hampstead Rehab facility to cope with demand across the entire public health system as a result of COVID-19. The objective, I'm told, is to free up more beds at the RAH, Flinders Medical Centre, Lyell McEwin and The QEH hospitals by shifting longer term patients to Hampstead. Frontline clinicians at Hampstead, I’m told, are becoming increasingly concerned however that the increase in patients has not equated to an increase in staffing levels—doctors or nurses. They fear that patient-staff ratio problems will worsen as winter hits and more people are hospitalised with influenza. My questions to the minister are:

1. How many beds in total are now available at Hampstead compared to the total increase on its previous capacity?

2. How many FTE doctors are currently employed at Hampstead and how does that compare to staffing levels before the bed capacity was increased?

3. How many FTE nurses are currently employed at Hampstead and how does that compare to staffing levels before the bed capacity was increased?

4. Is the government planning to increase both doctor and nursing levels at Hampstead given the increase in patients and the status of patients being shifted to Hampstead in terms of the acute or subacute nature of their medical conditions?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for her questions and will refer them to the Minister for Health in another place and seek that a reply be brought back.