❓ Dr. Jacobs questions the Minister for Health about long waiting times for children needing therapeutic intervention. The Minister acknowledges the problem and outlines ongoing reform efforts to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 297Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN - WAITING TIMES
I would like to welcome and acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of the students of Wesley College, and of Rosalie and Gordon Leaney in the Speaker’s gallery. I refer to the public forum on waiting times for children seeking therapeutic intervention that was held in East Fremantle on Tuesday and chaired by Hon Barbara Scott, in which many parents discussed their distress at the lack of support for families of children with learning and behavioural difficulties. (1) Is the minister satisfied with the waiting time of six months for assessment for speech therapy and occupational therapy, and up to a further six months for treatment? (2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY
I would like to welcome and acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of the students of Wesley College, and of Rosalie and Gordon Leaney in the Speaker’s gallery. I refer to the public forum on waiting times for children seeking therapeutic intervention that was held in East Fremantle on Tuesday and chaired by Hon Barbara Scott, in which many parents discussed their distress at the lack of support for families of children with learning and behavioural difficulties. (1) Is the minister satisfied with the waiting time of six months for assessment for speech therapy and occupational therapy, and up to a further six months for treatment? (2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
I refer to the public forum on waiting times for children seeking therapeutic intervention that was held in East Fremantle on Tuesday and chaired by Hon Barbara Scott, in which many parents discussed their distress at the lack of support for families of children with learning and behavioural difficulties. (1) Is the minister satisfied with the waiting time of six months for assessment for speech therapy and occupational therapy, and up to a further six months for treatment? (2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(1) Is the minister satisfied with the waiting time of six months for assessment for speech therapy and occupational therapy, and up to a further six months for treatment? (2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
I refer to the public forum on waiting times for children seeking therapeutic intervention that was held in East Fremantle on Tuesday and chaired by Hon Barbara Scott, in which many parents discussed their distress at the lack of support for families of children with learning and behavioural difficulties. (1) Is the minister satisfied with the waiting time of six months for assessment for speech therapy and occupational therapy, and up to a further six months for treatment? (2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(1) Is the minister satisfied with the waiting time of six months for assessment for speech therapy and occupational therapy, and up to a further six months for treatment? (2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(2) The minister’s own figures show that there are 3 556 people waiting for speech therapy, 1 396 people waiting for paediatric assessment and 1 830 people waiting for occupational therapy. (3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(3) On behalf of parents, what will the minister do to get disability services, health and education departments working together to reduce these waiting times? The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
The SPEAKER : I do not know whether there is a question in the second part. I must have missed it if there was, as it seemed to be a statement. The first and third parts can be answered. Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
(1),(3) I am not satisfied at the moment with the level of service delivery or the waiting times for the provision of therapies to children, particularly to children with illnesses and disabilities. The answer to the question is, therefore, I am not satisfied. That was the reason that, as part of the health reform program a little over 12 months ago, from memory, we considered the best way to provide services to children needing those therapies. The report is in draft form and has not yet come to me. However, I am advised that it contains a number of recommendations for changes to the way in which for many decades a very disjointed service with completely different models of care provided to different regions has resulted in different and unacceptable waiting times, and the way in which these can be coordinated centrally to provide quicker access for children who need those therapies. That is a very important reform process that I will embrace and ensure is driven into the future to ensure children get the therapies when they need them.
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