Hon Sue Ellery inquires about waiting lists and wait times for equipment and aids for children with disabilities in WA, with a focus on regional disparities. The response indicates no formal waiting list but acknowledges potential delays due to complexity, location, and access to services.

AnsweredQoN 5461Legislative Council
Asked
1 May 2012
Portfolio
Disability Services

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is there a waiting list for equipment and aids for children with disabilities?
(2) If yes to (1), how long is the wait for the different types of equipment, including but not limited to portable wheelchair ramps, toileting equipment, steps and platforms, hoists and slings?
(3) What is the most common equipment that is requested by families and how long is the wait for that piece of equipment?
(4) What is the average wait time for children with disabilities to receive equipment and aids in the metropolitan area compared with the wait time in regional Western Australia?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
13 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Disability Services
Response time
43 days
(1) There is no waitlist for equipment and aids for children with disability. There is currently funding available to obtain equipment through the Community Aids and Equipment Program. Once equipment is prescribed there may be a wait-time before it is delivered. The introduction, however, of a Paediatric Equipment Recycling Scheme in 2011 is showing very positive results and is reducing the time required to supply needed equipment to children.
(2) The wait- time for equipment is dependent on the complexity of the equipment item prescribed. Home modifications and installations such as steps, ramps and ceiling hoists may take longer to finalise when compared with single standard items such as a wheelchair, orthosis or bath support.
(3) The most common items of equipment funded for children with disabilities are Ankle Foot Orthoses and standard wheeled mobility aids. The average wait-time for these equipment items from prescription to delivery is about one month.
(4) Children with disability living in regional Western Australia who require Community Aids and Equipment Program items are likely to wait longer for a number of reasons, such as;
(i) Having access to a therapist who can assess and prescribe equipment.
(ii) Availability of contractors to quote and install home modifications.
(iii) Having access to trial equipment.
(iiii) Transportation of equipment to rural locations.
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