Western Australia Minister for Health Roger Cook

‘Choose Well, When You’re Worried Sick’ Campaign Launched

Victor P Taffa

• Campaign offers information to the community about their best care options
• Almost 1 in 5 emergency department attendances do not require emergency care

Health Minister Roger Cook today helped the WA Primary Health Alliance launch their ‘Choose Well, When You’re Worried Sick’ campaign.

“Our emergency department teams of doctors, nurses and allied health staff, provide world-class care. In an emergency there is nowhere else you should go.” Minister for Health Roger Cook said.

“However, the evidence is that not all attendances at our emergency departments are emergencies.”

The campaign offers more information to the community about the choices available when they are confronted with a situation that may be an emergency.

In 2015-16 from more than 1 Million attendances, almost 1 in 5 at our emergency departments was by patients requiring less urgent care (triage categories 4 and 5). These could be managed by other health providers, such as general practitioners.

This campaign is an opportunity to start a conversation with the Western Australian public, with information on the best care options for them and their circumstances.

‘Choose Well, When You’re Worried Sick’ campaign will run from November 2017 to February 2018.