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.
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.
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.
We asked the following questions of all survey respondents:
We also asked a series of specific questions depending on whether respondents worked in a Health Service Provider or the Department of Health.
You said the key issues facing our safety and quality system include:
Your feedback contained a mix of concrete suggestions for safety and quality activities and initiatives, and ways of working towards these within the confines of our health system.
We have used your feedback to help shape detailed goal setting for the Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Directorate’s Strategy 2022-2025.
We will continue to refer to specific comments and feedback as we implement the Strategy.
The Office of Population Health Genomics asked stakeholders for their feedback on the draft WA Genomics Strategy and their views to inform the development of the strategy’s first implementation plan.
The strategy has one overarching vision – that all Western Australians benefit from the timely and appropriate translation of genomics, enabling precision medicine and precision public health.
A total of 66 responses were received through Citizen Space and 2 written responses were received via email. The key themes that emerged from the responses are summarised below.
Vision:
Underlying principles:
Enablers of success:
Priority areas, goals and initiatives:
Stakeholders also provided valuable input to shape the content of the strategy’s implementation plan, particularly the key actions to complete in the first two years.
In response to the feedback, the Office of Population Health Genomics:
The final WA Genomics Strategy 2022-2032: Towards precision medicine and precision public health is now available to view here.
Any queries can be directed to genomics@health.wa.gov.au.
In November 2020 we launched the statutory review of the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 (the Act) and the Tobacco Products Control Regulations 2006 (the Regulations).
We published a discussion paper which asked for views on the operation and effectiveness of the Act and the Regulations, if the legislation is achieving it’s purposes, and how it could be improved. We also sought stakeholder views on other evidence-based legislative reforms that could update and strengthen WA’s tobacco control legislation to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.
A total of 53 submissions were received in response to the discussion paper.
Submissions were received from a wide range of respondents including members of the public, universities, industry stakeholders, nongovernment organisations and government departments. Submissions highlighted the varying perspectives and expectations that exist among different stakeholders regarding tobacco control legislation in Western Australia (WA).
A consultation report summarising the submissions was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Health on 24 June 2021.
The consultation report can be viewed on the Parliament website.
Information gathered from this stage of the review will assist in identifying possible areas for further investigation to strengthen the operation and effectiveness of the WA Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 and the Regulations. Following the development of options for regulatory improvements further consultation will be undertaken to inform the Government’s decision making process.
The WA Health End-of-Life Care Program released draft high level strategies for Advance Care Planning (ACP) education and awareness raising amongst health professionals and the community for broad consultation in September to October 2020.
The survey asked for input on the comprehensiveness and anticipated effectiveness of the overall approach outlined by the strategies and sought to identify existing education, training and awareness raising initiatives that are of relevance to the strategies.
All members of the WA community were encouraged to have their say, with the invitation to participate circulated amongst a broad range of stakeholders including consumers and carers, community organisations, Government departments/areas, health and allied health professionals, health and legal services, and aged care providers.
Over 75 responses we received to the online survey.
Overall the feedback from the consultation was positive with 77% of respondents indicating they agreed/ strongly agreed that the strategies:
As a result of the positive feedback, no strategies were removed but the following are some of the changes that were made:
Additional more-detailed feedback has been noted and recorded to inform the implementation phase.
Further background information was added to the document to provide clarity on the purpose, development process, and implementation (i.e. how it should be used and by who). A one-page summary has also been included. The final document is referred to as WA Health’s strategy for Advance Care Planning education and awareness raising: For health professionals and the community.
The first anniversary of the launch of the WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy (the Policy) was celebrated during Men’s Health Week in June 2020.
A 12 Month Check-Up of the Policy was carried out to assist in understanding:
An on-line survey was developed and was open for a period of five weeks (24 August - 25 September 2020). A total of 37 responses were received.
Overall, the feedback indicated that the majority of respondents were aware of the Policy and most people had some level of familiarity with its content. Despite the challenges of implementing the Policy (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic), a wide variety of men’s health and wellbeing events have occurred in the 12 months under review. The feedback was supportive of the purpose of the Policy as it provides a good framework to support the health and wellbeing of men and boys living in WA.
Your feedback was summarised in the WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy: 12 Month Check-Up Report. A copy of the 12 Month Check-up Report is available on the WA Department of Health website.
In 2020, the WA Health End-of-Life Care Program sought feedback on the revision of the WA Advance Health Directive (AHD) template. The consultation consisted of 2 phases:
All members of the WA community were encouraged to have their say, with the invitation to participate circulated amongst a broad range of stakeholders including consumers and carers, community organisations, Government departments/areas, health and allied health professionals, health and legal services, and aged care providers.
In total, 295 survey responses were received, and 217 people participated in workshops. Extensive feedback was received including useful suggestions on how to ensure the revised AHD better meets the needs of the community and health professionals: Key themes included:
The feedback was utilised to develop a final draft AHD template that was reviewed and refined by a working group comprised of WA Health stakeholders, key clinicians, consumers, and Office of the Public Advocate and Department of Justice representatives.
It is anticipated that WA Health will submit the finalised draft AHD template to the Department of Justice in April 2021. Once the Department of Justice have approved the final draft, they will proceed with drafting amendments to the Guardianship and Administration Act Regulations 2005 to incorporate changes to the prescribed AHD form. The revised AHD will be launched and promoted to the community once available.
The Patient Opinion™ Dashboard is intended to display a summary of Patient Opinion™ activity for all WA Health Service Providers. The dashboard displays data that is already publicly available but across several sites. Displaying data in one place as a web page on the HealthyWA website is intended to enable those interested to gain a quick snap shot of Patient Opinion™ activity in WA and guide those interested to more in depth information.
From the 29th of April to the 17th of May 2019 we invited you to provide feedback on a sample Patient Opinion™ Dashboard.
We received 114 responses to the consultation. Majority of the feedback was positive and included a range of suggestions for further adjustments to the Patient Opinion™ Dashboard.
In response to your feedback improvements have been made to: clarity of writing, definitions of the terms used by Patient Opinion and explanations of the purpose of the data provided. Patient Opinion™ Dashboard Consultation Report provides lists of all changes made in response to your feedback and areas identified for future improvement.
Your feedback about the Public Health Amendment (Immunisation Requirements for Enrolment) Bill 2019. Thank you for your input.
You provided valuable feedback.
Your feedback contributed to the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement. This document has now been completed and can be accessed at https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/immunisationenrolment
The Bill was introduced into Parliament in May 2019.
Any queries can be directed to immunisation@health.wa.gov.au
The WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy was developed to provide direction to the WA health system and its partners to deliver strategies that improve the physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing of men and boys living in WA.
We asked for feedback on the draft Policy to inform and guide its development.
A series of community consultation forums also occurred from June to August 2018 and provided an opportunity for face-to-face feedback in addition to the online survey.
A total of 107 responses were received via the online survey from various stakeholders groups. The online survey generated nearly 500 separate comments that were accurately processed, analysed and considered.
Seventy seven per cent of respondents provided their views in the survey as an individual, with the remainder expressing views on behalf of a group or organisation.
Feedback from respondents showed there was broad support for the Policy’s guiding principles, vision, purpose, goals, priority populations and areas for action.
The feedback highlighted a variety of other priority population groups to consider for possible inclusion in the Policy, the need for a condensed version of the document and the importance of implementation and monitoring.
Health Networks re-drafted the Policy to incorporate the consultation feedback with guidance from the WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy Reference Group.
The Policy was launched in Men’s Health Week (10-16 June 2019). A copy of the Policy and a Summary Document is available from
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/U_Z/WA-Mens-Health-and-Wellbeing-Policy
Thank you to everyone interested in men’s health who participated in the consultation of the draft WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy.
For further information on the WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy, please contact Health Networks on 9222 0200 or email healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au.
People were asked a series of questions about their thoughts on the health status report and objectives and policy priorities outlined in the Interim State Public Health Plan. A total of 63 responses were received from various stakeholder groups. Local government represented 33 per cent of responses received.
Data
Objectives and priorities
Partnerships and other suggestions
The CHO will consider the feedback received and use it to inform a revised State Public Health Plan. This process will involve:
For your feedback about the Medicines and Poisions Regulations 2015.
Thank you for your input.
You provided valuable feedback.
Your feedback contributed to the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement.
The Decision RIS has now been complete and can be accessed at: http://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Development-of-the-Medicines-and-Poisons-Regulations
Drafting instructions are currently being completed for the Parliamentary Council Office to compile into legislation to be presented to Parliament.
Any questions can be directed to poisonsregulation@health.wa.gov.au
What you thought about cancer prevention in Western Australia
To see the full consultation findings and agenda for action, click here: