The WA Government is seeking to renew its contract with St John WA, but will implement an array of measures to improve the service in response to a parliamentary inquiry into the embattled ambulance service provider.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says the revamped contract with St John would undergo a review part way through to assess its performance.
"We are seeking to sign a five-year contract with St John with a review clause in 2025 about what's in the best interest for this state. Is the contract delivering what it needs to?" she said.
"St John ambulance have been the subject of a number of inquiries … we've also seen recent deaths of patients waiting for ambulances."
The state government has supported, or supported in-principal, 46 of the 48 recommendations made from a parliamentary inquiry into WA's ambulance services.
The changes outlined in the government's response include improving transparency around performance, delivering new models of employment, and creating alternative care pathways.
St John WA says it will work through the details of the arrangements with the Department of Health.
"The state government will also commit to reporting annually to parliament on the KPIs in their contract, and how St John are meeting those," Ms Sanderson said.
The proposed review in 2025 will consider whether ambulance services should be delivered by another provider or run by the state government.
Opposition leader Mia Davies said while it was clear St John Ambulance had work to do, there seemed to be union elements encouraging the government to bring it back in-house.
"Let's have a look at how they're running their own health system before they start taking on additional services," she said.
"The thought that they could take on the ambulance system in a state the size of Western Australia instead of working collaboratively with the provider, just beggars belief."
Shadow health minister Libby Mettam supported the idea of introducing KPIs for the service, but called on the government to look more closely at its own operations.
"There must also be more transparency and some clear targets around the way the McGowan government runs our hospital system," she said.
COVID hospital rules easing
The state government on Tuesday announced plans to further ease pandemic protocols, and scrap mandatory COVID testing in hospitals for most visitors.
The plan to shift into a "new phase of pandemic response" will begin on August 15, and will see the state's protocols shift from a red alert level to blue.
It will see reduced screening requirements to enter hospitals, targeted testing, and changing mask rules for hospital staff.
"In a time when WA has passed its most recent peak of COVID-19, it makes sense to take practical, reasonable measures to free up some burdens," health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.
WA recorded 2,965 new COVID infections on Tuesday, with 358 people in hospital and 11 in intensive care.
The state's caseload has been trending downwards for weeks after passing a winter peak last month.
Key changes implemented as part of the blue alert level include extending visiting hours, and asymptomatic visitors no longer being required to produce a negative RAT unless visiting high-risk areas or vulnerable patients.
Visitors to hospitals will still need to be vaccinated, or have proof of an exemption, but staff will only be conducting spot checks.
"This is a measured approached to scaling back the COVID response in hospitals, which has been endorsed by the Chief Health Officer, and expert infection control teams from the WA health system," Ms Sanderson said.
"This is, of course, balanced appropriately with the need to protect our staff, and our most vulnerable patients from serious illness."
The scaling back of COVID measures comes after WA broke new records in ambulance ramping last month.
Ambulances were parked outside hospitals waiting to transfer patients for 6,983 hours throughout July.
Some COVID measures will remain in place at hospitals, including the two visitors per patient rule, testing of symptomatic patients presenting in emergency departments and for elective surgeries.
All staff will also still need to wear at least a surgical mask, but those working in high-risk areas or caring for vulnerable patients will need to wear particulate filter respirator masks.
