Department of Health, WA

Welcome to the online consultation hub for the Department of Health, Western Australia.

This hub is a place for you to participate in online consultations in the areas of public health and clinical services, planning for frameworks, policy and guidelines.

Check this page regularly to have your say on consultations that are of interest.

We look forward to your engagement and receiving feedback to improve the way health services are delivered in Western Australia.

Open consultations are displayed below, alternatively, search for consultations by keyword, postcode and interests.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

HealthPolicy.HealthPolicy@health.wa.gov.au

 

Closed Consultations

  • Draft Public Health Planning Guide for Local Governments

    You are invited to review and provide feedback on the Draft Public Health Planning Guide for Local Government (Guide). Implementation of Section 45 of the Public Health Act 2016 commenced on 4 June 2024, formally enacting the requirement for the preparation of a local public health plan prepared by...

    Closed 29 November 2024

  • Alcohol and Other Drug Withdrawal Management Policy - Review

    The Alcohol and Other Drug Withdrawal Management Policy is a mandatory policy under the Mental Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(a, c) of the Health Services Act 2016. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time and place to...

    Closed 22 November 2024

  • Draft Guiding Principles for Patient Reported Measures

    WA Health is developing guiding principles for the selection, collection, use and reporting of Patient Reported Measures (PRMs) which includes both Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). This work is part of the “ Improving safety and quality in...

    Closed 17 November 2024

  • 2023-2024 Food Act 2008 and Public Health Act 2016 Reporting

    Local Government enforcement agencies are required to report to the Department of Health on their performance of functions under the Food Act 2008 (Food Act) (as required by section 121) and the Public Health Act 2016 (Public Health Act) (as required by section 22). The Food Act reporting...

    Closed 30 September 2024

  • Clinical Trials Investigator Survey

    Are you an individual with a role in conducting clinical trials research? Please complete this investigator survey. This survey will help us to gather your insights regarding clinical trials research in Western Australia. Your responses will help us understand how to boost capacity and access...

    Closed 13 September 2024

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

In October/November 2023, the WA Department of Health End of Life Care (EOLC) Program conducted a consultation to gain a better understanding of the current uptake of advance care planning (ACP) and use of ACP resources in WA. The survey sought feedback on the revised WA Advance Health Directive (AHD) and suite of ACP resources that were released on 4 August 2022.

You said

69 respondents completed the survey with 76% reporting they thought the resources were very effective/ effective. Reported levels of awareness and use of the key ACP resources (Advance Health Directive and accompanying Guide, Values and Preferences Form, Your Guide to ACP in WA: Workbook) was high. Qualitative feedback on the resources was largely positive indicating the information within the resources is clear and comprehensive with a broad range of diversity represented within the images. Areas of concern that were noted included the literacy level and length of some of the resources.

The most common ACP activity reported within the last 12 months was ACP conversations with family, carers or friends.

Health professionals reported they were moderately or very confident in supporting patients with ACP. However, there were a small number of respondents to this question so the results may not be indicative of true levels of confidence across the whole workforce.

We did

The findings informed the development of several actions that the EOLC Team is currently implementing alongside existing work plans and priorities. This includes exploring possibilities to simplify the range of ACP information, arranging targeted awareness around common misconceptions, coordinating general awareness raising of ACP and investigating further opportunities for health professional education.

We asked

The consultation was about proposed supply controls over nitrous oxide, with the aim of reducing supply patterns associated with increased health harm.

Nitrous oxide gas is used as a prescription medicine, as a food additive and in the automotive industry. It is also inhaled as a recreational substance. Changing patterns of recreational use have resulted in increasing health harm, including damage to the nervous system, behavioural changes and reduced ability to safely drive.

The consultation related to nitrous oxide when classified as a Schedule 6 poison. There will be no changes to the regulation of nitrous oxide as a prescription medicine.

The survey was set up so those supplying nitrous oxide, those using nitrous oxide in food and drink preparation and those using nitrous oxide as an inhalant were asked questions most relevant to them.

You said

A total of 260 submissions were received in response to the online survey. The majority (85%) of responses were from individuals with the remainder from organisations and businesses.

There was variation in responses between the self-identified groups of respondents. Generally, those indicating they used nitrous oxide for home cooking or recreational use and those who identified as a member of the public, were less supportive of any restrictions. Health professionals, organisations representing health professionals and government departments were most supportive of the introduction of additional regulatory controls over supply.

Businesses selling nitrous oxide were of the opinion that additional supply controls would have an economic impact on their businesses.

We did

Advice was also sought from an industry reference group, with representatives from the hospitality, wholesaling and retailing sectors. An expert working group convened by the Mental Health Commission also provided input.

Details of the final proposals are available in the Consultation Report February 2024.

The proposed new rules for purchasing nitrous oxide in Schedule 6 will mean:

  • Businesses using nitrous oxide bulbs for food additive purposes will have ongoing access to these products. These businesses will need to provide their supplier with evidence of their food business registration or liquor licence.
  • Other businesses or institutions will be able to seek approval from the Department of Health to purchase nitrous oxide bulbs.
  • Individual members of the public will no longer be able to purchase nitrous oxide bulbs.
  • Supply of food additive grade nitrous oxide in larger cylinders or cannisters will not be allowed.
  • Anyone (aged 16 years or older) will be able to purchase nitrous oxide intended for automotive use, provided the product has added sulfur dioxide, to deter inhalation.

We asked

The consultation was about amendments to the Medicines and Poisons Regulations 2016 and the Schedule 8 Medicines Prescribing Code. A primary aim of the consultation was to seek feedback on proposals to reduce regulatory burden, particularly for prescribers.

The proposed changes follow implementation of ScriptCheckWA, Western Australia’s real-time prescription monitoring system. ScriptCheckWA provides clinicians with up-to-date information about all monitored medicines prescribed and dispensed for their patient within WA.

The survey was set up so respondents could choose to answer only those questions most relevant to them.

You said

A total of 39 submissions were received in response to the discussion paper. Eighteen were from organisations and 21 were from individuals.

Peak bodies representing prescribers, pharmacists and consumers responded. A significant number of respondents confined their feedback to either the section about regulation of stimulant medicines or the section about regulation of medicinal cannabis.

Most respondents supported a requirement for prescribers and pharmacists to register to access ScriptCheckWA. Opinion was divided about whether use of ScriptcheckWA, at the time of prescribing or dispensing, should be mandated.

There was general support for regulating the prescribing of stimulant medicines and medicinal cannabis in a similar manner to other Schedule 8 medicines. Detailed prescribing restrictions would be included in a ‘prescribing code’ rather than in the Regulations.

Over half the respondents supported the list of Schedule 4 medicine proposed to be classified as ‘monitored medicines’. Another 26% of respondents supported most of the medicines on the list being monitored through ScriptCheckWA.

We did

Following agreement by the Minister for Health, regulatory changes are being progressed. Details of the final proposals are available in the Consultation Report (April 2023)

Further targeted consultation will be undertaken during development of a new prescribing code to replace the current Schedule 8 Medicines Prescribing Code.