The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics are further proof of a failing health system under the Cook Labor Government, confirming WA emergency departments are the worst in the country, with less than half of patients seen on time. 

The proportion of patients being seen in the clinically recommended timeframe has fallen from 63 per cent in 2018-19 to 48 per cent last financial year.

The data released today reveals the median wait time for patients presenting at an emergency department is now 41 minutes, up from 28 minutes in 2018-2019.

The report also shows one in ten patients are now waiting more than three hours to be seen (191 minutes) in an emergency department in this state.

Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said it was incomprehensible in a State as prosperous as WA that patients were waiting longer in emergency departments than they were four years ago. 

“To see the median wait time in our emergency departments blow out by 46 per cent is appalling and is another demonstration of how the health system continues to fail under the Cook Labor Government,” Ms Mettam said. 

“The Premier is a former Health Minister who was demoted for his failures in this portfolio and it appears that nothing has changed since he was moved on.”

Ms Mettam said the elective surgery statistics demonstrated another blow out in wait times, with a 183 per cent increase since 2018-19 in the number of patients waiting more than a year for surgery. 

The data also showed elective surgery admissions had fallen 13 per cent in the past four years from 88,673 in 2018-19 to 80,793 in 2022-23.

“Just because a surgery is elective does not mean it is optional. Patients requiring elective surgeries are often unable to work, have chronic pain and their conditions can become more acute the longer they are left untreated,” Ms Mettam said.

“While the government boasts about record spending on health to fix its massive wait list blow outs, the reality is a system in crisis. 

“It’s hard to reconcile this data with the record surpluses Labor is banking. This government is rolling in cash courtesy of iron ore royalties and GST payments, but it is failing to invest it to ensure we have the world class health system our community deserves.  

“The system is clearly broken; the Cook Labor Government continues to make a mess of the health system with Roger Cook at the helm and patients are the ones paying the price.”

Source AIHW: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/sectors/emergency-department-care