❓ Dr. Woollard asks about the progress of the $50 million funding commitment to child health services. Minister Hames details the progress in hiring speech therapists and reducing waiting times, acknowledging the Education and Health Standing Committee's role.
AnsweredQoN 732Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD HEALTH SERVICES — GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Child health services had been neglected for many years until earlier this year when the Liberal–National government began addressing the issue with a funding commitment of $50 million. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Alfred Cove, take a seat. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to order for the first time today. I presume all members want to ask their questions in this place. The member for Alfred Cove has the call. Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES
Child health services had been neglected for many years until earlier this year when the Liberal–National government began addressing the issue with a funding commitment of $50 million. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Alfred Cove, take a seat. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to order for the first time today. I presume all members want to ask their questions in this place. The member for Alfred Cove has the call. Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Alfred Cove, take a seat. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to order for the first time today. I presume all members want to ask their questions in this place. The member for Alfred Cove has the call. Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
The SPEAKER : Member for Alfred Cove, take a seat. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to order for the first time today. I presume all members want to ask their questions in this place. The member for Alfred Cove has the call. Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Alfred Cove, take a seat. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to order for the first time today. I presume all members want to ask their questions in this place. The member for Alfred Cove has the call. Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
The SPEAKER : Member for Alfred Cove, take a seat. Member for Armadale, I formally call you to order for the first time today. I presume all members want to ask their questions in this place. The member for Alfred Cove has the call. Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr J.M. WOOLLARD : The funding commitment of almost $50 million was described by one senior paediatrician as “the most significant improvement in our funding for some 20 years”. Can the minister please advise the house of the progress made in improving child health services? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Firstly, on behalf of the member for Ocean Reef, I acknowledge St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School students who are just departing, I think, from the public gallery. Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Despite the somewhat immature comments of the member for Armadale, this is quite an appropriate question from the member for Alfred Cove to ask. In fact, any member of the Education and Health Standing Committee could well have asked the same question. As members know, the Education and Health Standing Committee conducted an inquiry into the provision of child health services and made a large number of recommendations. One recommendation was that there be a significant increase in both funding and health service provision, particularly in areas such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. There had not been an increase in funding under either our previous government or the previous Labor government, so that as demand increased, waiting times for children with that sort of disability to be seen were getting longer and longer. The critical point made by the member for Alfred Cove and her committee was that in some of those areas, and particularly speech therapy, getting very early treatment is critical. As members know, an unprecedented amount of money was put in the last budget—$50 million over four years—to significantly increase the number of speech therapists, with the target being an additional 45 therapists in the metropolitan area over that time. I am pleased to say that 44 of those speech therapists have now been appointed, and there has been a significant reduction in waiting times. There is still a long way to go. The target is for a 50 per cent reduction in waiting times by July next year. The therapists are confident they will achieve that, but as people hear that more services are available, more people are actually coming for treatment. We will have to keep a close watch on that. Nevertheless, there has been a significant improvement. A lot more still needs to be done both in the area we have discussed and with child health services, school nurses and the like. I am hopeful that we can address that in the future. Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr J.M. Woollard : And mental health nurses. Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
Dr K.D. HAMES : That would be the responsibility of the Minister for Mental Health, but the member is right; there is also a gap in the ability to provide those services. I congratulate the member for Alfred Cove and her committee on the bipartisan report that has been produced and which has recommended significant improvement. I am very proud that our government was, as the doctor said, the first in 20 years to make a significant investment in this area. I have great confidence that we will get services that meet the expectations of the community.
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