❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about potential funding cuts and reduced access to allied health services in regional Western Australia. The Minister's response acknowledges challenges but denies recent funding reductions impacting core service delivery.
AnsweredQoN 681Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What steps is the Minister taking to ensure the defence and protection of regional Western Australia’s allied health, speech and occupational therapy services?
(2) Does the Minister appreciate the damage that is being done to the provision of these much needed professional services in the allied health area across regional Western Australia by the recent reduction in funds allocated to these programs?
(3) Will the Minister take the opportunity to investigate this issue and report back to the Parliament with full details of which regional towns will now see reduced services in the allied health area, and;
(a) if not, why not?
(4) Will the Minister advise the Parliament which regional towns will now be faced with:
(a) reduced access to speech therapy services;
(b) reduced numbers of speech therapists;
(c) reduced access to occupational therapy services;
(d) reduced numbers of occupational therapists; or
(e) any other reduced allied health services impacting on regional Western Australia?
(2) Does the Minister appreciate the damage that is being done to the provision of these much needed professional services in the allied health area across regional Western Australia by the recent reduction in funds allocated to these programs?
(3) Will the Minister take the opportunity to investigate this issue and report back to the Parliament with full details of which regional towns will now see reduced services in the allied health area, and;
(a) if not, why not?
(4) Will the Minister advise the Parliament which regional towns will now be faced with:
(a) reduced access to speech therapy services;
(b) reduced numbers of speech therapists;
(c) reduced access to occupational therapy services;
(d) reduced numbers of occupational therapists; or
(e) any other reduced allied health services impacting on regional Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 May 2009
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
27 days
(1) Allied health professionals form an important part of the health team delivery to country Western Australia. Allied health professionals provide services across all aspects of health, including hospital services, paediatrics, mental health, aged care, primary care and community health. They comprise of a range of health professionals including, but not limited to Assistants, Audiologists, Dietitians, Health Promotion Officers, Medical Imaging Technologists, Nutritionists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Social Workers, Monographers, and Speech Pathologists.
The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) has worked to improve access to allied health services for rural and remote communities through a range of strategies such as partnerships with other agencies (for example, Disability Service Commission and local Divisions of General Practice). WACHS has also increased allied health services as part of the Regional Health Service funding initiative and the Australian Better Health Initiative (Funded by the Australian Government of Health and Ageing).
WACHS has also increased the number of allied health assistants working in country Western Australia, building local capacity to provide and support allied health services. Technologies such as videoconferencing are also being utilised to provide allied health services closer to home, linking country patients and families with metropolitan based allied health specialists.
Whilst there is a recognised challenge in the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals, WACHS has implemented a number of strategies to address this issue. The priority focus in retaining and building the capacity of the existing workforce through provision of professional support, increasing access to training and development opportunities and strengthen networks between allied health professionals. Recruitment initiatives have focussed on promoting WACHS and country practice to allied health professionals, especially during the formative years of undergraduate studies.
(2)-(3) WACHS has a balanced and measured approach to managing within its funding allocation however, positions in core service delivery are not affected. There has not been any recent reduction in funding of these positions.
(4) (a-e) Not applicable.
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The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) has worked to improve access to allied health services for rural and remote communities through a range of strategies such as partnerships with other agencies (for example, Disability Service Commission and local Divisions of General Practice). WACHS has also increased allied health services as part of the Regional Health Service funding initiative and the Australian Better Health Initiative (Funded by the Australian Government of Health and Ageing).
WACHS has also increased the number of allied health assistants working in country Western Australia, building local capacity to provide and support allied health services. Technologies such as videoconferencing are also being utilised to provide allied health services closer to home, linking country patients and families with metropolitan based allied health specialists.
Whilst there is a recognised challenge in the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals, WACHS has implemented a number of strategies to address this issue. The priority focus in retaining and building the capacity of the existing workforce through provision of professional support, increasing access to training and development opportunities and strengthen networks between allied health professionals. Recruitment initiatives have focussed on promoting WACHS and country practice to allied health professionals, especially during the formative years of undergraduate studies.
(2)-(3) WACHS has a balanced and measured approach to managing within its funding allocation however, positions in core service delivery are not affected. There has not been any recent reduction in funding of these positions.
(4) (a-e) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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