Perth’s public hospitals have been forced to declare more than 500 code yellows in the past year as capacity issues continue to plague the health system.
Worst impacted was Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, which went into code yellow 144 times in 2021-22 – an average of eleven every two and a half days.
That was followed by Perth Children’s Hospital (89 code yellows), Fiona Stanley Hospital (74) and Royal Perth Hospital (68).
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The city’s biggest maternity hospital, King Edward Memorial, declared 36 code yellows in the year to July.
A code yellow refers to an infrastructure or other internal emergency that is impacting service delivery – including a lack of available beds.
Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the “shocking” figures – contained in answers to questions in Parliament – pointed to a health system that was “significantly under-resourced and lurching from crisis to crisis”.
A Port Kennedy driver has been accused of running over a man and pinning him under his car after a brawl at a Warnbro service station.
Police allege that the incident unfolded about 8.20pm on Wednesday, when the accused went to the Caltex petrol station on Warnbro Sound Avenue to buy a couple of items.
When he returned to his Mitsubishi Lancer, a man known to him hopped into the front passenger’s seat and a fight broke out between them.
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The 29-year-old man in the passenger’s seat got out of the car and started to walk away.
It is alleged the 33-year-old driver then sped towards him, with the Lancer jumping the kerb and ploughing into the victim, pinning him under the vehicle.
A man has been hospitalized after he was hit by a car at a service station in Warnbro. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS
Several people nearby managed to lift the car off the victim.
He was then given first aid by police officers before being taken to Royal Perth Hospital with third degree burns to his back.
The driver was arrested and charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to harm and no authority to drive.
He will appear at the Rockingham Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Photos of the aftermath showed the Mitsubishi dumped in the bushes near the service station, with the scene taped off by police.
Police have taped off the scene. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS
Peak-hour traffic has been hit across the metropolitan area by several incidents as heavy rain causes widespread delays.
Motorists northbound on Kwinana Freeway need to be extra careful on the approach to South Terrace in Como with the left lane blocked after an accident.
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Main Roads have warned of slow traffic in the area.
There have also been a number of breakdowns across the metropolitan area, with the right lane blocked on Tonkin Highway northbound after Roe Highway in Kewdale.
Traffic is slow on approach, with visibility in the wet also hampered.
Traffic is also slow on Tonkin Highway southbound prior to Morley Drive in Morley after a breakdown.
Tow trucks are dealing with the issue in the left emergency lane.
There has been a truck breakdown on the Kwinana Freeway in South Perth.
Emergency services have closed the left lane prior to Mill Point Road.
And Main Roads have warned holidaymakers heading to Perth Airport to allow extra travel time with roadworks closing Tonkin Highway from Great Eastern Highway to Dunreath Drive for bridge removal and construction.
The works started at 4am on Monday, with motorists told to seek alternative routes.
Thick smoke is also making driving difficult on Mitchell Freeway between Neerabup Road and Hester Avenue.
With reduced visibility in the area, motorists have been told to switch on their headlights and take extreme caution.
The latest incidents come after a crash on Kwinana Freeway in Baldivis prior to Karnup Road caused delays on Sunday night.
With wet weather to continue throughout Monday and into Tuesday, motorists across Perth have been warned to stay vigilant, switch on headlights and ensure a safe braking distance to the vehicle in front.
