❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Health regarding the support provided to Eden Turner, a child patient, specifically concerning funding for home care and discrepancies in statements about the Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH) program. The Minister's response addresses funding, care plans, and communication with the family.
AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EDEN
TURNER — CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM
378. Hon ADELE FARINA to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I refer to Jessica Turner and her daughter Eden who is
currently a patient at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and the
statement to the media on 1 June 2012 in which the Minister for Health stated
that the child and adolescent community health program is a metropolitan-based
program that is not placed to assist Eden Turner; and that the ongoing needs of
Eden Turner would be met irrespective of the CACH program and that this is not
a funding issue.
(1) In view
of the statement made by the chief executive officer of Princess Margaret
Hospital at the budget estimates hearing on health on 7 June 2012 that CACH is
not a metropolitan-based program and not restricted to children who live in the
metropolitan area only, does the minister stand by his statement; and, if yes,
on what basis?
(2) If the
provision of assistance for Eden to be cared for at home is not a funding
issue, why have PMH staff put to Jessica Turner that there is no funding
assistance available for a night nurse to care for Eden at home and that her
husband, Jason, should give up his job and go on a carer's allowance in
order to care for Eden at night despite this meaning the family would lose
their home due to being unable to meet their mortgage repayments on a carer's
allowance?
(3) Is the
minister of the view that forcing a family to choose between losing their home
and their financial security or being able to care for their daughter at home
is a reasonable and acceptable act by PMH staff?
(4) Will the
minister give an undertaking that funding will be made available for a night
nurse to care for Eden Turner at home for at least five to six nights a week?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) When
will the long overdue clinical care plan for Eden Turner be completed, and when
will her parents be consulted in relation to the plan?
TURNER — CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM
378. Hon ADELE FARINA to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I refer to Jessica Turner and her daughter Eden who is
currently a patient at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and the
statement to the media on 1 June 2012 in which the Minister for Health stated
that the child and adolescent community health program is a metropolitan-based
program that is not placed to assist Eden Turner; and that the ongoing needs of
Eden Turner would be met irrespective of the CACH program and that this is not
a funding issue.
(1) In view
of the statement made by the chief executive officer of Princess Margaret
Hospital at the budget estimates hearing on health on 7 June 2012 that CACH is
not a metropolitan-based program and not restricted to children who live in the
metropolitan area only, does the minister stand by his statement; and, if yes,
on what basis?
(2) If the
provision of assistance for Eden to be cared for at home is not a funding
issue, why have PMH staff put to Jessica Turner that there is no funding
assistance available for a night nurse to care for Eden at home and that her
husband, Jason, should give up his job and go on a carer's allowance in
order to care for Eden at night despite this meaning the family would lose
their home due to being unable to meet their mortgage repayments on a carer's
allowance?
(3) Is the
minister of the view that forcing a family to choose between losing their home
and their financial security or being able to care for their daughter at home
is a reasonable and acceptable act by PMH staff?
(4) Will the
minister give an undertaking that funding will be made available for a night
nurse to care for Eden Turner at home for at least five to six nights a week?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) When
will the long overdue clinical care plan for Eden Turner be completed, and when
will her parents be consulted in relation to the plan?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) The
child and adolescent community health program is a non-nursing care program for
the care of children with a profound disability who require frequent
interventions and mechanical ventilation to support breathing. Each case is
assessed on an individual basis, and the needs of the child are paramount. Currently
there are no country children in the CACH program.
(2) The
funding issues in relation to the care of Eden have been explained to the
Turner family, with the focus on Eden's clinical status, and that the
funding was the concern of the health services involved in her care. Options
around carer's payments would have been discussed with the social
worker and the family, as per normal discharge planning. At no time has Jason
been told to give up his job.
(3) Princess
Margaret Hospital staff are supporting Bunbury Hospital staff to transition
Eden home with her care needs and safety as the number one issue. The parents
will be invited to meet with staff face to face or to a video conference with
both hospitals' staff to negotiate the final transition plan to home
when Eden is medically stable.
(4) Funding
will be made available for a trained carer to care for Eden at home, based on
her clinical requirements at the time.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) The
clinical care plan for Eden is underway. Eden's clinical status will
dictate the finer details of the plan as her health improves. The costings for
the carer support will be included in this plan. The parents attended a team
meeting at Princess Margaret Hospital last week, and transition to Bunbury
Hospital, transition home from there, the level of care required, and funding
were all openly discussed with a family advocate from the Health Consumers'
Council present.
(1) The
child and adolescent community health program is a non-nursing care program for
the care of children with a profound disability who require frequent
interventions and mechanical ventilation to support breathing. Each case is
assessed on an individual basis, and the needs of the child are paramount. Currently
there are no country children in the CACH program.
(2) The
funding issues in relation to the care of Eden have been explained to the
Turner family, with the focus on Eden's clinical status, and that the
funding was the concern of the health services involved in her care. Options
around carer's payments would have been discussed with the social
worker and the family, as per normal discharge planning. At no time has Jason
been told to give up his job.
(3) Princess
Margaret Hospital staff are supporting Bunbury Hospital staff to transition
Eden home with her care needs and safety as the number one issue. The parents
will be invited to meet with staff face to face or to a video conference with
both hospitals' staff to negotiate the final transition plan to home
when Eden is medically stable.
(4) Funding
will be made available for a trained carer to care for Eden at home, based on
her clinical requirements at the time.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) The
clinical care plan for Eden is underway. Eden's clinical status will
dictate the finer details of the plan as her health improves. The costings for
the carer support will be included in this plan. The parents attended a team
meeting at Princess Margaret Hospital last week, and transition to Bunbury
Hospital, transition home from there, the level of care required, and funding
were all openly discussed with a family advocate from the Health Consumers'
Council present.
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