❓ Hon Linda Savage questions the Health Department about child health check scheduling, particularly regarding follow-up appointments and data collection at specific health centres, following an Auditor General's report highlighting potential issues with appointment availability.
AnsweredQoN 4878Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the Western Australian Auditor General’s report ‘Universal Child Health Checks’ of November 2010, at page 19 where it is stated that for the health checks after the first eight months, ‘parents are advised to make appointments only if they have concerns, and then may have to wait up to six weeks for an appointment’, and responses to additional questions asked by me of the Health Department in the Estimates process to the effect that ‘The Department of Health is working to address the Auditor General’s recommendations …. to increase the number of children receiving checks …. The Department of Health promotes the importance of all child health checks ….. At each of the universal child health checks, the child health nurse promotes the importance of the next health check and encourages parents to attend’, and ask -
(a) what specifically has the Health Department done to facilitate and/or assist the child health nurse to schedule the appointments after the eight monthly check appointment;
(b) have child health nurses been directed to proactively schedule appointments for the 18 months and 3 years checks in all child health clinics; and
(c) if no to (1)(b), why not?
(2) I refer to the Mandurah Child Health Centre located at the Community Health Centre, 112 Lakes Road, Mandurah, and ask -
(a) for each of the years 2008 to 2010, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(b) For the year 2011, up until 1 July, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(3) I refer to the Ellenbrook Child Health Centres 1 and 2 located at 2 Highpoint Boulevarde, Ellenbrook, and ask -
(a) for each of the years 2008 to 2010, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(b) For the year 2011, up until 1 July, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(a) what specifically has the Health Department done to facilitate and/or assist the child health nurse to schedule the appointments after the eight monthly check appointment;
(b) have child health nurses been directed to proactively schedule appointments for the 18 months and 3 years checks in all child health clinics; and
(c) if no to (1)(b), why not?
(2) I refer to the Mandurah Child Health Centre located at the Community Health Centre, 112 Lakes Road, Mandurah, and ask -
(a) for each of the years 2008 to 2010, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(b) For the year 2011, up until 1 July, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(3) I refer to the Ellenbrook Child Health Centres 1 and 2 located at 2 Highpoint Boulevarde, Ellenbrook, and ask -
(a) for each of the years 2008 to 2010, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
(b) For the year 2011, up until 1 July, how many of the following health checks were provided/performed at -
(i) birth;
(ii) 6-8 weeks;
(iii) 3-4 months;
(iv) 8 months;
(v) 18 months; and
(vi) 3 years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
23 days
(1) (a) Child health services are provided state-wide across many different community settings. The Department of Health provides overarching policy direction, practice guidelines and supervision for the delivery of these services. The scheduling of appointments is a local clinical management responsibility.
(b) Child health nurses are not directed to schedule these appointments in all child health clinics. Future appointments are discussed between the child health nurse and the parent or carer. If parents or carers have concerns about the health or development of their child they can make contact with the child health nurse at any time.
(c) As there are 10 months between the offer of an 8 month check and the 18 month check, and one and a half years between the 18 month and 3 year offer of a check, it is not practical to schedule the checks so far in advance. Where there are concerns for a child or their family, the child health nurse proactively follows up between scheduled checks. Additionally, where the mother has concerns she is encouraged to make an appointment to see the child health nurse.
(2 - 3) The Department of Health's existing Information System (HCARe) is unable to accurately report service activity data by individual child health centre.
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(b) Child health nurses are not directed to schedule these appointments in all child health clinics. Future appointments are discussed between the child health nurse and the parent or carer. If parents or carers have concerns about the health or development of their child they can make contact with the child health nurse at any time.
(c) As there are 10 months between the offer of an 8 month check and the 18 month check, and one and a half years between the 18 month and 3 year offer of a check, it is not practical to schedule the checks so far in advance. Where there are concerns for a child or their family, the child health nurse proactively follows up between scheduled checks. Additionally, where the mother has concerns she is encouraged to make an appointment to see the child health nurse.
(2 - 3) The Department of Health's existing Information System (HCARe) is unable to accurately report service activity data by individual child health centre.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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