❓ Hon Adele Farina asks about speech therapy wait times and service levels in the South West region, particularly at Hudson House in Bunbury. The Minister acknowledges wait times but states no plans to increase services due to prior investments.
AnsweredQoN 3205Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the mean wait time for an appointment with a speech therapist in the South West region? (2) What is the longest wait time for an appointment with a speech therapist in the South West region? (3) How many children are on the wait list for an appointment with a speech therapist in the South West region? (4) What is the mean wait time for an appointment with a speech therapist at Hudson House in Bunbury? (5) What is the longest wait time for an appointment with a speech therapist at Hudson House? (6) How many children are on the wait list for an appointment with a speech therapist at Hudson House? (7) As parents have complained to me that they cannot get an appointment with a speech therapist at Hudson House because demand outstrips the service provided, will the Minister increase the speech therapist services at Hudson House in Bunbury? (8) If no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 September 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
84 days
Answer as at 16 June 2015 -
(1)
The WA Country Health Service - South West has recently implemented a new patient administration system with a staged roll out across sites between October 2014 and May 2015. Due to the changeover it is presently not possible to extract accurate wait time figures for the region. However, the WA Country Health Service advises that average wait times for speech pathology services are 4-6 weeks.
(2)
All referrals for speech pathology are triaged and high priority referrals are seen within 1-2 days. A small number of non-urgent referrals may wait 3-4 months.
(3) 134.
(4)
The estimated average wait time at
Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Road)
is 4-6 weeks.
(5) A small number of non-urgent referrals will wait 3-4 months to see a Speech Pathologist at
Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Road).
(6) There are 60 children on the wait list at
Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Road).
(7) There are no plans to increase Speech Pathology Services at Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Rd).
(8) Speech Pathology has previously been increased in the South West with the State Government's investment into Child Development Services 2009-13, which has funded additional Speech Pathologists and also the ability to contract private Speech Pathology services to supplement capacity. Since 2013, the investment has been sustained and has funded speech pathology services on an ongoing basis. In addition, Speech Pathology services in the school system have been enhanced through funding of Speech Pathology to support the Carey Park Child Parent Centre.
(1)
The WA Country Health Service - South West has recently implemented a new patient administration system with a staged roll out across sites between October 2014 and May 2015. Due to the changeover it is presently not possible to extract accurate wait time figures for the region. However, the WA Country Health Service advises that average wait times for speech pathology services are 4-6 weeks.
(2)
All referrals for speech pathology are triaged and high priority referrals are seen within 1-2 days. A small number of non-urgent referrals may wait 3-4 months.
(3) 134.
(4)
The estimated average wait time at
Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Road)
is 4-6 weeks.
(5) A small number of non-urgent referrals will wait 3-4 months to see a Speech Pathologist at
Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Road).
(6) There are 60 children on the wait list at
Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Road).
(7) There are no plans to increase Speech Pathology Services at Bunbury Community Health (Hudson Rd).
(8) Speech Pathology has previously been increased in the South West with the State Government's investment into Child Development Services 2009-13, which has funded additional Speech Pathologists and also the ability to contract private Speech Pathology services to supplement capacity. Since 2013, the investment has been sustained and has funded speech pathology services on an ongoing basis. In addition, Speech Pathology services in the school system have been enhanced through funding of Speech Pathology to support the Carey Park Child Parent Centre.
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