Pilot virtual emergency medicine system expanded to Peel Health Campus

Health Minister Roger Cook made the announcement on Monday while touring the virtual emergency medicine system at Fiona Stanley Hospital, which during the first month of a pilot successfully reduced ramping by 25 per cent.

The system uses technology to triage patients in ambulances and, where appropriate, divert them away from the emergency department to suitable inpatient services. It includes a dedicated clinical team providing the services seven days a week.

Mr Cook announced $2.3 million funding to allow the system to expand to include Rockingham General Hospital and Peel Health Campus in order to improve ambulance and emergency department flow.

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The state's besieged hospital emergency departments will also receive additional staff as part of a new $1.9 billion health spend in next month's state budget.

It includes a $100 million support package for emergency departments across metropolitan Perth including Mandurah, as well as funding for at least 50 additional full-time equivalent medical, nursing, allied health and support service staff.

New mental health emergency centres will be built at hospitals in Rockingham and Joondalup, while $37 million will be spent on tailored support to people with complex mental health needs who repeatedly present at hospitals.

It comes amid warnings from health unions of staff shortages, burnout and poor morale among doctors and nurses at emergency departments.

"Over the past 12 to 18 months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our hospitals have been subject to an unprecedented increase in demand, which has put staff and resources under strain," Mr Cook said.

"This $100 million emergency department support package is part of the massive $1.9 billion investment, which will help alleviate pressure on the pointiest end of our health system."

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Mr Cook has linked concerns about the state's hospitals to issues related to the pandemic, including a spike in mental health presentations.

Doctors and nurses dispute this, saying a lack of preparedness and investment has resulted in WA having the nation's lowest number of per capita hospital beds.

Australian College of Emergency Medicine representative Peter Allely said a review of the state's health planning was needed.

"The talk about this being unprecedented demand, I would have a problem with, to be honest," he told ABC radio.

"I think our demand has been growing very predictably over the last 15 or 20 years and this has been a problem that's just been gradually coming down the line for a long time."

Dr Allely added that colleagues were reporting high levels of burnout and exhaustion and a "toxic" work environment in some hospitals.

The state government has promised to hire more nurses and midwives and open 332 new hospital beds as part of a $1.9 billion health investment in the September 9 budget.

Almost $5 million will go to the Perth Children's Hospital emergency department to hire an additional 16 nurses.

This will allow an extra nurse every shift to be based in the emergency waiting area to monitor patients.

It comes after the Easter Saturday death of seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath, who succumbed to an infection while waiting to be treated.

A report by WA's Child and Adolescent Health Service found PCH emergency department staff missed a "cascade" of opportunities to help Aishwarya, whose parents had repeatedly drawn attention to her deterioration.

Australian Associated Press