❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding community and school child health nurse staffing levels, wait times, and missed check-ups in the South West region. The answer provides some data but notes limitations and unavailability of specific information.
AnsweredQoN 1857Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to community health nurses in the South West electoral region, and ask: (a) as at 1 July 2011, 1 July 2012, 1 July 2013 and 1 July 2014, how many full time equivalent community child health nurses were employed in: (i) Bunbury; (ii) Busselton; (iii) Margaret River; and (iv) the South West region; (b) as at 1 July 2011, 1 July 2012, 1 July 2013 and 1 July 2014, how many school child health nurses were employed in: (i) Bunbury; (ii) Busselton; (iii) Margaret River; and (iv) the South West region; and (c) for each of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, what was the average wait time for an appointment with: (i) a community child health nurse in: (A) Bunbury; (B) Busselton; (C) Margaret River; (D) the South West region; (ii) a school child health nurse in: (A) Bunbury; and (B) Busselton; and (C) Margaret River; and (D) the South West region; and (iii) for each of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 in each of Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and the South West region, how many children living in the South West missed their: (A) six months check up? (B) 12 months check up? (C) 24 months check up? (D) 36 months check up?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 November 2014
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
34 days
WA Health reports by Health Service region, not electoral district.
(a)(i-iv) Child health nurse full time equivalent (FTE) employed in the locations listed as at 1 July in each of the years specified:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Bunbury
8.9
8.9
9.75
9.75 (CHI 1.0)
Busselton
3.93
3.93
3.93
3.93
Margaret River
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.2 (CHI 1.0)
South West
17.8
17.8
17.8
20
NB: 2013/2014 reflects increases related to the Child Health investment (CHI) funding. Additional child health FTE has also been increased through the Non-Government Organisation - GP down south who have recruited 2.8 FTE in both Bunbury and Busselton.
(b)(i-iv) School health nurse FTE employed in the locations listed below as at the 1 July in each of the years specified:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Bunbury
6.3
6.3
6.3
6.6
Busselton
2.3
2.3
2.3
4.0*
Margaret River
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
South West
13.9
13.9
13.9
14.5
*1.0FTE is Senior Registered Nurse 3 Nurse Manager
(c)(i)(A-D) This data is not available, as child health services have no generally run waitlists. Appointments with a child health nurse are allocated based on need and managed at a clinic level to ensure timely access for parents, particularly in the early postnatal period. Current data reveals that within three weeks of having a baby, more than 90% of families have received contact from the local child health nurse.
(ii)(A-D) School Health Services in Western Australia are delivered using a population-based approach to health promotion and early detection, for children and adolescents as they grow and develop
1
. School health nurses do not provide an appointment service within WA Country Health Service; therefore this data is not available.
(iii)(A-C) The Universal Contact Schedule (UCS) for Child Health does not provide a check at six (6) months, 12 months or 24 months, therefore this data is not available.
(D) A UCS visit is scheduled for 3-3.5 years within the Universal Schedule.
It is not possible to determine accurately the number of children who did not receive a visit, as this is affected by movement of children in and out of the South West region.
Proportion of children (%) who did not receive contact at 3-3.5 years in the South West is estimated as below:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Bunbury
Busselton
Margaret River
South West
85
70
71
53
The following data limitations should be noted:
· The proportion of children not receiving the service was calculated from the Occasions of Service (OOS) data recorded in HCARe.
· Proportions are calculated based on population census predictions, therefore may not reflect the actual population of children aged 3-3.5 years in the region.
· Population census predictions are not available for the towns as listed; therefore the proportion can only be calculated for the region as a whole.
· The Universal Contact Schedule is voluntary, and parents can elect not to receive this service.
1
Child and Adolescent Community Health Service (Statewide Policy), 2014. WA School Health Services Rationale: 2013 Review. Child and Adolescent Health Service, Department of Health Western Australia.
(a)(i-iv) Child health nurse full time equivalent (FTE) employed in the locations listed as at 1 July in each of the years specified:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Bunbury
8.9
8.9
9.75
9.75 (CHI 1.0)
Busselton
3.93
3.93
3.93
3.93
Margaret River
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.2 (CHI 1.0)
South West
17.8
17.8
17.8
20
NB: 2013/2014 reflects increases related to the Child Health investment (CHI) funding. Additional child health FTE has also been increased through the Non-Government Organisation - GP down south who have recruited 2.8 FTE in both Bunbury and Busselton.
(b)(i-iv) School health nurse FTE employed in the locations listed below as at the 1 July in each of the years specified:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Bunbury
6.3
6.3
6.3
6.6
Busselton
2.3
2.3
2.3
4.0*
Margaret River
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
South West
13.9
13.9
13.9
14.5
*1.0FTE is Senior Registered Nurse 3 Nurse Manager
(c)(i)(A-D) This data is not available, as child health services have no generally run waitlists. Appointments with a child health nurse are allocated based on need and managed at a clinic level to ensure timely access for parents, particularly in the early postnatal period. Current data reveals that within three weeks of having a baby, more than 90% of families have received contact from the local child health nurse.
(ii)(A-D) School Health Services in Western Australia are delivered using a population-based approach to health promotion and early detection, for children and adolescents as they grow and develop
1
. School health nurses do not provide an appointment service within WA Country Health Service; therefore this data is not available.
(iii)(A-C) The Universal Contact Schedule (UCS) for Child Health does not provide a check at six (6) months, 12 months or 24 months, therefore this data is not available.
(D) A UCS visit is scheduled for 3-3.5 years within the Universal Schedule.
It is not possible to determine accurately the number of children who did not receive a visit, as this is affected by movement of children in and out of the South West region.
Proportion of children (%) who did not receive contact at 3-3.5 years in the South West is estimated as below:
2011
2012
2013
2014
Bunbury
Busselton
Margaret River
South West
85
70
71
53
The following data limitations should be noted:
· The proportion of children not receiving the service was calculated from the Occasions of Service (OOS) data recorded in HCARe.
· Proportions are calculated based on population census predictions, therefore may not reflect the actual population of children aged 3-3.5 years in the region.
· Population census predictions are not available for the towns as listed; therefore the proportion can only be calculated for the region as a whole.
· The Universal Contact Schedule is voluntary, and parents can elect not to receive this service.
1
Child and Adolescent Community Health Service (Statewide Policy), 2014. WA School Health Services Rationale: 2013 Review. Child and Adolescent Health Service, Department of Health Western Australia.
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