A WA parliamentary question seeks data on child psychiatrist wait times at Child Development Services and CAMHS, revealing a lack of standardised waitlists and target times, and low access for 0-3 year olds.

AnsweredQoN 509Legislative Council
Asked
29 June 2011
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

MENTAL HEALTH — CHILD PSYCHIATRIST WAIT TIMES
(1) As at 1 June 2011, what was the current average waiting time for an appointment with a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service in regional areas and in the metropolitan area? (2) In the event children are not referred to the Child Development Service to see a child psychiatrist, are they referred to the child and adolescent mental health service? (3) If yes to (2), as at 1 June 2011, what was the current average waiting time for an appointment with a child psychiatrist at the child and adolescent mental health service? (4) What is the target waiting time to see a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS, both in regional areas and in the metropolitan area? (5) How many children in the zero to three-year-old age group accessed a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS in regional areas and/or the metropolitan area in the 2010 calendar year? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(2) In the event children are not referred to the Child Development Service to see a child psychiatrist, are they referred to the child and adolescent mental health service? (3) If yes to (2), as at 1 June 2011, what was the current average waiting time for an appointment with a child psychiatrist at the child and adolescent mental health service? (4) What is the target waiting time to see a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS, both in regional areas and in the metropolitan area? (5) How many children in the zero to three-year-old age group accessed a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS in regional areas and/or the metropolitan area in the 2010 calendar year? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(3) If yes to (2), as at 1 June 2011, what was the current average waiting time for an appointment with a child psychiatrist at the child and adolescent mental health service? (4) What is the target waiting time to see a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS, both in regional areas and in the metropolitan area? (5) How many children in the zero to three-year-old age group accessed a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS in regional areas and/or the metropolitan area in the 2010 calendar year? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(4) What is the target waiting time to see a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS, both in regional areas and in the metropolitan area? (5) How many children in the zero to three-year-old age group accessed a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS in regional areas and/or the metropolitan area in the 2010 calendar year? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(5) How many children in the zero to three-year-old age group accessed a child psychiatrist at the Child Development Service or CAMHS in regional areas and/or the metropolitan area in the 2010 calendar year? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(1) The Child Development Service does not employ child psychiatrists. (2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(2) Yes. (3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(3) There is no standardisation of waitlists or wait times across the metropolitan child and adolescent mental health service. Waiting times for access to mental health services in CAMHS is based on a priority system, so that children with high risk are seen as quickly as possible. In case of emergencies, a child and adolescent psychiatrist is employed 24 hours a day at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in the emergency department. (4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(4) CAMHS does not have a target wait time for specific professional groups. Children considered to be high risk are seen as quickly as possible. (5) Sixteen.
(5) Sixteen.

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