❓ Hon Aaron Stonehouse questions the Minister for Health regarding ENT specialist wait times for children in Perth, highlighting potential developmental issues and postcode lottery concerns. The Minister provides data on wait times at various hospitals and explains patient allocation processes.
AnsweredQoN 1154Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT
SPECIALISTS — WAIT TIMES — PERTH
1154. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to wait times
for ear, nose and throat specialists in metropolitan Perth, and particularly
wait times for younger patients.
(1) How many
children under the age of 18 are currently waitlisted to see an ENT specialist
across the metropolitan health system, and what is the average system-wide wait
time?
(2) What is the
average wait time to see an ENT specialist at Perth Children's
Hospital?
(3) What is the
equivalent wait time for a child attending Fiona Stanley Hospital, which is in
my electorate?
(4) Given the
serious developmental issues that can be linked to chronic ear problems, not in
the least sleep and attention-based difficulties, will the minister join me in
condemning any suggestion of a postcode lottery being played with the health of
some of the most vulnerable young people in our community?
SPECIALISTS — WAIT TIMES — PERTH
1154. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to wait times
for ear, nose and throat specialists in metropolitan Perth, and particularly
wait times for younger patients.
(1) How many
children under the age of 18 are currently waitlisted to see an ENT specialist
across the metropolitan health system, and what is the average system-wide wait
time?
(2) What is the
average wait time to see an ENT specialist at Perth Children's
Hospital?
(3) What is the
equivalent wait time for a child attending Fiona Stanley Hospital, which is in
my electorate?
(4) Given the
serious developmental issues that can be linked to chronic ear problems, not in
the least sleep and attention-based difficulties, will the minister join me in
condemning any suggestion of a postcode lottery being played with the health of
some of the most vulnerable young people in our community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) At Perth
metropolitan hospitals, as at 13 October 2019, there were 1 806 children under
the age of 18 on the elective surgery
waitlist under the ENT specialty. The average wait time for these patients was
164 days , and the median wait time was 148 days.
(2) At Perth
Children's Hospital, as at 13 October 2019, the average wait time for
patients was 172 days, and the median wait time was 164 days.
(3) At Fiona
Stanley Hospital, as at 13 October 2019, the average wait time for patients was
140 days, and the median wait time was 145 days.
(4) Patients in
the public system are allocated for outpatients and elective surgery based
largely on catchment area. However, other factors are also considered such as
whether a patient's local wait time may exceed a clinically recommended
time period, whereupon a patient may be offered an appointment outside their
local catchment area.
some notice of the question.
(1) At Perth
metropolitan hospitals, as at 13 October 2019, there were 1 806 children under
the age of 18 on the elective surgery
waitlist under the ENT specialty. The average wait time for these patients was
164 days , and the median wait time was 148 days.
(2) At Perth
Children's Hospital, as at 13 October 2019, the average wait time for
patients was 172 days, and the median wait time was 164 days.
(3) At Fiona
Stanley Hospital, as at 13 October 2019, the average wait time for patients was
140 days, and the median wait time was 145 days.
(4) Patients in
the public system are allocated for outpatients and elective surgery based
largely on catchment area. However, other factors are also considered such as
whether a patient's local wait time may exceed a clinically recommended
time period, whereupon a patient may be offered an appointment outside their
local catchment area.
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