Bunbury MLA Don Punch has downplayed criticism of Bunbury Hospital and declared it well equipped for Omicron

Bunbury’s State member and an infectious diseases expert have downplayed criticism of the South West’s health capabilities, saying Bunbury Hospital was “well equipped” for the arrival of Omicron while continuing to be operate as a broader regional hospital service. The comments come after Shadow Regional Health Minister Martin Aldridge called on the State Government to come clean on plans to close hospitals in regional WA in the event of critical staff shortages. It has also been revealed WA Health director general David Russell-Weisz told WA hospitals to put on pause non-urgent category two and three elective surgery bookings as the State anticipates a two-month surge in COVID patients. The number of COVID cases is expected to increase as the quarantine period for close contacts and thousands of travellers was halved from 14 to seven days. Bunbury MLA Don Punch said he was confident in the forward planning done to prepare Bunbury Hospital. “I am very confident in the planning that the Bunbury Hospital has undertaken to respond to COVID – and the changing patterns of COVID – as well as continuing to be a hospital service for the South West community,” Mr Punch said. “Like every other hospital, nationally, not just in Western Australia, but in Queensland, in Victoria, in South Australia – it’s a hospital that’s experiencing extraordinary demand,” Mr Punch said. WA Country Health Service’s Principal Health Officer and infectious diseases expert, Dr Helen Van Gessel, said the Health Department had factored in the “unique” circumstances of country hospitals as part of a system-wide response, which included working with “what if” scenarios. “As part of our planning, we have needed to address what we will do at our more remote, more vulnerable sites,” she said. “We’re working on contingency plans in the event someone working at a remote hospital unknowingly contracts COVID while out and about and all of their colleagues become close contacts.” Mr Aldridge said regional councils and hospital staff had raised concerns temporary hospital closures could become permanent. “Closing down regional hospitals – even temporarily – is a totally unacceptable outcome from a State Government swimming in cash,” Mr Aldridge said. “There appears to be no continuity capacity to maintain hospital operations should staff become sick or deemed to be close contacts of confirmed COVID cases.” Dr Van Gessel said any closures caused by an outbreak would be a last resort after rapid deployment pool and support staffing options had been undertaken. “We aren’t closing country hospitals,” she said. “It’s our job to put the welfare of our staff and patients first and prepare for every possible outcome - and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”