❓ Mr Rundle questions the Minister for Health about long wait times for children to see specialists, given the state's budget surplus. The Minister acknowledges the issue, citing increased referrals and workforce shortages affecting both public and private sectors.
AnsweredQoN 725Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
HEALTH SERVICE — CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
725. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Thanks, minister. Considering that the government is some $5 billion in
surplus, does the minister think it is acceptable that Western Australian
children must wait for up to a year and a half to see a specialist?
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
HEALTH SERVICE — CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
725. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Thanks, minister. Considering that the government is some $5 billion in
surplus, does the minister think it is acceptable that Western Australian
children must wait for up to a year and a half to see a specialist?
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
AnswerView source ↗
As the member rightly pointed out
himself, we have seen a 52 per cent increase in referrals. There is not the workforce out there to deal with those referrals.
That is a fundamental issue. We are in a workforce crisis around the world, and assessing neurodevelopmental issues can take 12 months in the
private sector. I do not know whether the
member has any experience with children who have neurodiversity or getting
assessments, but it can take up to 18
months in the private sector. This is not unique to the public sector at all.
As usual, the opposition is not interested in the facts. Opposition members are not interested in the facts; they are
just based on headlines or what is reported and what is reported is often not true or not the case, as the Premier
demonstrated today. Member, this issue has been created by a multitude of factors. It is a complex issue
that is across the public and private sectors where the waitlists are also
significant. It is a workforce challenge with an increase in referrals, and we
all have to work together to find solutions.
himself, we have seen a 52 per cent increase in referrals. There is not the workforce out there to deal with those referrals.
That is a fundamental issue. We are in a workforce crisis around the world, and assessing neurodevelopmental issues can take 12 months in the
private sector. I do not know whether the
member has any experience with children who have neurodiversity or getting
assessments, but it can take up to 18
months in the private sector. This is not unique to the public sector at all.
As usual, the opposition is not interested in the facts. Opposition members are not interested in the facts; they are
just based on headlines or what is reported and what is reported is often not true or not the case, as the Premier
demonstrated today. Member, this issue has been created by a multitude of factors. It is a complex issue
that is across the public and private sectors where the waitlists are also
significant. It is a workforce challenge with an increase in referrals, and we
all have to work together to find solutions.
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