❓ Question regarding the number of child and school health nurses in the South West region of WA, appointment wait times, and missed check-ups. The answer provides some data on nurse FTE but notes limitations and unavailability of specific data requested.
AnsweredQoN 3486Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to community health nurses in the South West electoral region, and ask: (a) as at 1 July 2015, 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 2015, how many school child health nurses were employed in: (i) Bunbury; (ii) Busselton; (iii) Margaret River; and (iv) the South West region; (c) for each of 2014 and 2015 to date, what was the average wait time for an appointment with: (i) a community child health nurse in: (A) Bunbury; (B) Busselton; (C) Margaret River; and (D) the South West region; (ii) a school child health nurse in: (A) Bunbury; (B) Busselton; (C) Margaret River; and (D) the South West region; (d) for each of 2014 and 2015 to date in each of Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and the South West region, how many children living in the South West missed their: (i) six months check up; (ii) 12 months check up; (iii) 24 months check up; and (iv) 36 months check up?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 December 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
42 days
WA Health reports by Health Service region, not electoral district.
(a) The following indicates the number of Child Health Nurse full time equivalent (FTE) directly employed in the South West locations by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), as at 1 July 2015:
Location
FTE
(i) Bunbury
9.75
(ii) Busselton
3.93
(iii) Margaret River
2.2
(iv) South West (Total)*
20
*The South West Health region includes Harvey/Wellington and Manjimup/Blackwood districts.
NB: In addition to the FTE directly employed by WACHS, approximately 4.7 child health nurse FTE are employed through contracted services. These are not included in above figures.
(b) The following indicates the number of School Health Nurse FTE employed by WACHS in South West locations, as at 1 July 2015:
Location
FTE
(i) Bunbury
7.0
(ii) Busselton
4.1
(iii) Margaret River
0.8
(iv) South West (Total)*
14.5
*The South West Health region includes Harvey/Wellington and Manjimup/Blackwood districts.
(c)(i)(A - D) This data is not available as child health services do not maintain waitlists. Appointments 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 more than 95% of families have contact with a child health nurse within three weeks of having a baby.
(ii)(A - D) This data is not available as school health services do not maintain waitlists. Services are delivered using a population-based approach to health promotion and early detection of issues
[1]
. Individuals are seen by school health nurses on an as needs basis.
(d)(i - iii) The Western Australian Universal Child Health Contact Schedule Health does not provide a check at 6, 12 or 24 months, therefore this data is not available.
(iv) The Universal Contact Schedule is voluntary, and parents can elect not to receive this service. A check is offered for 3-3.5 year olds. It is not possible to accurately determine the number of children who did not receive the check, as the figure is affected by population movement.
Based on the occasions of service provided, it is estimated that 53% of children in 2014 and 40% of children in 2015 in the South West did not receive the 3-3.5 year old check.
The following data limitations should be noted:
- Proportions for 2015 are an estimate calculated based on birth notifications in 2012, and may not reflect the actual population of children aged 3-3.5 years in the region.
- The breakdown of birth notifications is not available for the 2011 year and therefore the proportion reported for 2014 is based on population census predictions. The population census predictions are not available for individual towns listed and therefore proportion can only be predicted for region as a whole.
[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) The following indicates the number of Child Health Nurse full time equivalent (FTE) directly employed in the South West locations by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), as at 1 July 2015:
Location
FTE
(i) Bunbury
9.75
(ii) Busselton
3.93
(iii) Margaret River
2.2
(iv) South West (Total)*
20
*The South West Health region includes Harvey/Wellington and Manjimup/Blackwood districts.
NB: In addition to the FTE directly employed by WACHS, approximately 4.7 child health nurse FTE are employed through contracted services. These are not included in above figures.
(b) The following indicates the number of School Health Nurse FTE employed by WACHS in South West locations, as at 1 July 2015:
Location
FTE
(i) Bunbury
7.0
(ii) Busselton
4.1
(iii) Margaret River
0.8
(iv) South West (Total)*
14.5
*The South West Health region includes Harvey/Wellington and Manjimup/Blackwood districts.
(c)(i)(A - D) This data is not available as child health services do not maintain waitlists. Appointments 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 more than 95% of families have contact with a child health nurse within three weeks of having a baby.
(ii)(A - D) This data is not available as school health services do not maintain waitlists. Services are delivered using a population-based approach to health promotion and early detection of issues
[1]
. Individuals are seen by school health nurses on an as needs basis.
(d)(i - iii) The Western Australian Universal Child Health Contact Schedule Health does not provide a check at 6, 12 or 24 months, therefore this data is not available.
(iv) The Universal Contact Schedule is voluntary, and parents can elect not to receive this service. A check is offered for 3-3.5 year olds. It is not possible to accurately determine the number of children who did not receive the check, as the figure is affected by population movement.
Based on the occasions of service provided, it is estimated that 53% of children in 2014 and 40% of children in 2015 in the South West did not receive the 3-3.5 year old check.
The following data limitations should be noted:
- Proportions for 2015 are an estimate calculated based on birth notifications in 2012, and may not reflect the actual population of children aged 3-3.5 years in the region.
- The breakdown of birth notifications is not available for the 2011 year and therefore the proportion reported for 2014 is based on population census predictions. The population census predictions are not available for individual towns listed and therefore proportion can only be predicted for region as a whole.
[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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