❓ Ms. Beard inquires about women's health services at Carnarvon Outpatient Campus, revealing a service reduction since March 2021. The response details current services, explains the service change decision, and clarifies communication with GPs and the community.
AnsweredQoN 828Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the provision of women's health clinic services at the Carnarvon Outpatient Campus, and I ask : (a) What women health services are currently provided at the Carnarvon Outpatient Campus; (b) Are Pap Smears provided at the site; (c) Have any services stopped being provided at the campus since March 2021, and if so which services; (d) If yes to (c), who made the decision to reduce services; (e) Was the Minister informed/aware or gave approval before there was a change in service provision to the Carnarvon community; (f) If changes were made to service provision, what communication of these changes was made with the community and when; (g) Were local GP’s notified ahead of the change in service provision; (h) How many GP’s are based in Carnarvon; (i) What population numbers does the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) use for Carnarvon and the catchment that is serviced by the Carnarvon Health Campus; (j) Are these services provided at the Outpatient Campus to all women patients in Carnarvon; and (k) If not, where are these services then provided in the region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 August 2023
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
1 days
(a) Carnarvon Health Campus provides Gynaecology services to the Carnarvon community, with visiting surgical and outpatient gynaecological services delivered on a two monthly basis, supported by telehealth enabled outpatient clinics on the alternate months. Patients require a General Practitioner (GP) referral to access this service. The Physiotherapy service at the Carnarvon Health Campus also provides pelvic floor and incontinence health assessments and interventions for both women and men.
(b) No. Cervical screening tests are routinely performed in primary care settings.
(c) Prior to May 2021, the WACHS Midwest Public Health Unit provided cervical screening services for women in Carnarvon. This involved women’s health and pap smears, conducted by an appropriately trained nurse under the clinical governance of the Public Health Physician.
(d) The WACHS Population Health Directorate and the Midwest Public Health Physician made the decision to transfer this service, as this service is routinely provided in a primary care setting.
(e) No.
(f) The information was communicated to the relevant consumers and stakeholders at the time the change occurred.
(g) Local GPs were consulted ahead of the change and written referrals for affected consumers were completed and provided to the local primary care practitioner of their choice.
(h) Seven (7) GPs are based in the Carnarvon Medical Centre. Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service Gascoyne Outreach Service (GRAMS GOS) also provides General Practice services.
(i) Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data.
(j) The Gynaecology and Physiotherapy services are provided through the Carnarvon Health Campus’s outpatient clinics. General practitioner services are provided from their rooms.
(k) Women’s health services of this type are provided in the primary care sector throughout the Midwest region.
(b) No. Cervical screening tests are routinely performed in primary care settings.
(c) Prior to May 2021, the WACHS Midwest Public Health Unit provided cervical screening services for women in Carnarvon. This involved women’s health and pap smears, conducted by an appropriately trained nurse under the clinical governance of the Public Health Physician.
(d) The WACHS Population Health Directorate and the Midwest Public Health Physician made the decision to transfer this service, as this service is routinely provided in a primary care setting.
(e) No.
(f) The information was communicated to the relevant consumers and stakeholders at the time the change occurred.
(g) Local GPs were consulted ahead of the change and written referrals for affected consumers were completed and provided to the local primary care practitioner of their choice.
(h) Seven (7) GPs are based in the Carnarvon Medical Centre. Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service Gascoyne Outreach Service (GRAMS GOS) also provides General Practice services.
(i) Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data.
(j) The Gynaecology and Physiotherapy services are provided through the Carnarvon Health Campus’s outpatient clinics. General practitioner services are provided from their rooms.
(k) Women’s health services of this type are provided in the primary care sector throughout the Midwest region.
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