❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding wait times for diabetic educators in Perth hospitals and regional WA. The response provides specific wait times for various hospitals and regions, differentiating between urgent and non-urgent cases, and highlighting the role of telehealth services.
AnsweredQoN 5119Legislative Assembly
Asked
7 May 2019
Member
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the current wait time for patients to see a diabetic educator at: (a) Perth Children's Hospital; (b) Royal Perth Hospital; (c) Armadale Health Service; (d) St Joh of God Midland Public Hospital; (e) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital; (f) King Edward Memorial Hospital; (g) Joondalup Health Campus; (h) Fiona Stanley Hospital; (i) Rockingham General Hospital; and (j) Peel Health Campus? (2) What is the current wait time for patients to see a diabetic educator in regional WA (Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid-West, Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt, Peel, South West, Great Southern)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 June 2019
Response time
10 days
I am advised:
(1)
(a) Newly diagnosed children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are admitted to Perth Children’s Hospital and see a diabetes educator within 24 hours. After this initial inpatient admission, patients are generally seen by a diabetes educator on a three monthly basis.
(b) 4 weeks.
(c) 3 weeks.
(d) Between 2 and 4 weeks.
(e) Inpatients - Urgent - within 1 week, non-urgent within 2-3 months.
(f) Within 1 week.
(g) Within 2 weeks.
(h) For new patients referred to the Diabetes Education Clinic, urgent cases are booked immediately to the Rapid Access Clinic and non-urgent cases are seen within 2 to 4 weeks. For follow up appointments, urgent cases are immediately booked to the Rapid Access Clinic and there is a waitlist of 6 to 12 weeks for non-urgent cases. There is no wait time for patients referred to the Diabetes in Pregnancy Multidisciplinary clinic or the Gestational Diabetes Group education.
(i) Within 30 days.
(j) Patients are immediately referred to community services.
(2)
Region
Current wait time in Regional WA
Kimberley
Wait times vary according to location of patient, currently there is no wait time in Broome. Patients from other sites are referred to Boab Health Service (wait time unknown) or to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Pilbara
Wait times vary according to location of patient with average wait time in Hedland of one (1) day for urgent referrals and two (2) weeks for non-urgent referrals. Patients from other sites are referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Gascoyne/Midwest
Wait times vary according to location of patient and scheduled visiting service with average wait time of one (1) week in Geraldton and average wait time of one (1) month in Murchison and Gascoyne (visiting service). Patients, especially in urgent cases are also referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Goldfields/Esperance
Wait times vary according to location of patient with no wait time in Kalgoorlie and in Esperance average wait time of 2-3 weeks for urgent referrals and up to 6 months for non-urgent referrals. Patients, especially in urgent cases are also referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Wheatbelt
Wait time not applicable as patients are referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
South West
Wait time is on average 1 week for urgent referrals and 2-3 weeks for non-urgent referrals. Patients, especially in urgent cases are also referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Great Southern
Wait times vary according to location of patient with average wait time of 24 days in Albany and Katanning or where a referral in made to Diabetes Telehealth Service, particularly in urgent cases average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
(1)
(a) Newly diagnosed children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are admitted to Perth Children’s Hospital and see a diabetes educator within 24 hours. After this initial inpatient admission, patients are generally seen by a diabetes educator on a three monthly basis.
(b) 4 weeks.
(c) 3 weeks.
(d) Between 2 and 4 weeks.
(e) Inpatients - Urgent - within 1 week, non-urgent within 2-3 months.
(f) Within 1 week.
(g) Within 2 weeks.
(h) For new patients referred to the Diabetes Education Clinic, urgent cases are booked immediately to the Rapid Access Clinic and non-urgent cases are seen within 2 to 4 weeks. For follow up appointments, urgent cases are immediately booked to the Rapid Access Clinic and there is a waitlist of 6 to 12 weeks for non-urgent cases. There is no wait time for patients referred to the Diabetes in Pregnancy Multidisciplinary clinic or the Gestational Diabetes Group education.
(i) Within 30 days.
(j) Patients are immediately referred to community services.
(2)
Region
Current wait time in Regional WA
Kimberley
Wait times vary according to location of patient, currently there is no wait time in Broome. Patients from other sites are referred to Boab Health Service (wait time unknown) or to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Pilbara
Wait times vary according to location of patient with average wait time in Hedland of one (1) day for urgent referrals and two (2) weeks for non-urgent referrals. Patients from other sites are referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Gascoyne/Midwest
Wait times vary according to location of patient and scheduled visiting service with average wait time of one (1) week in Geraldton and average wait time of one (1) month in Murchison and Gascoyne (visiting service). Patients, especially in urgent cases are also referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Goldfields/Esperance
Wait times vary according to location of patient with no wait time in Kalgoorlie and in Esperance average wait time of 2-3 weeks for urgent referrals and up to 6 months for non-urgent referrals. Patients, especially in urgent cases are also referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Wheatbelt
Wait time not applicable as patients are referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
South West
Wait time is on average 1 week for urgent referrals and 2-3 weeks for non-urgent referrals. Patients, especially in urgent cases are also referred to Diabetes Telehealth Service where average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
Great Southern
Wait times vary according to location of patient with average wait time of 24 days in Albany and Katanning or where a referral in made to Diabetes Telehealth Service, particularly in urgent cases average wait time is 2-5 days for urgent referral and 19.5 days or non-urgent referrals.
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