New figures have laid bare the strain on Perth’s biggest hospitals, which are struggling to meet demand despite Western Australia remaining virus-free.
More than 100 “code yellow” internal emergencies were declared because of capacity issues over 12 months at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
The figures obtained by the opposition show 76 code yellows were declared at Sir Charles Gairdner and 25 at Fiona Stanley Hospital last financial year.
It comes as the state government again postpones some elective surgeries in a bid to relieve pressure on the struggling public health system.
Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam says the system is in crisis with frontline workers regularly being asked to work overtime and double shifts.
“The Labor government have decimated our health system with an exhausted workforce that are unable to take leave and a massive backlog of elective surgeries,” she said on Wednesday.
“This has left the WA health system dangerously ill-prepared for COVID and a ticking time bomb (which is) quickly running out.”
Doctors and nurses at Perth Children’s Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital have held rallies in recent months to protest against staff shortages and working conditions.
Figures published by St John Ambulance reveal ambulances spent more than 6500 hours parked outside hospitals waiting to admit patients last month.
The Australian Medical Association has predicted WA’s health system will struggle in the event of a significant virus outbreak.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is meanwhile warning that WA’s low vaccination rate and lack of restrictions mean the Delta variant will eventually spread “rapidly” through the population.
Asked about the code yellow figures, Premier Mark McGowan reiterated his government’s plan to open 332 new hospital beds and hire more staff as part of an additional $1.9 billion health investment in this month’s budget.
“Every state in Australia has been going through these experiences,” he said.
“What we’re doing about it is investing hugely in additional nurses, doctors, support services and hospitals all over WA.”
Mr McGowan has declared WA won’t remove state border closures until more than 80 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.
The border closures were upheld by the High Court last year after a challenge was mounted by Clive Palmer, with initial support from the Commonwealth.
Federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash on Wednesday warned that any future court challenges could have a different outcome given there were now proven vaccines available, prompting a defiant response from Mr McGowan.
“We had a High Court challenge last year and we won, easily, against Clive Palmer and the Liberal Party,” he said.
“If they want to bring on round two, let them.”
The premier added that business leaders were “extremely happy” with WA’s handling of the virus despite calls for states to adhere to national reopening targets.
