Question regarding the relocation and staffing of child health nurses in WA, following the Premier's announcement of co-locating services. Concerns raised about existing shortages and future funding.

AnsweredQoN 51Legislative Council
Asked
8 March 2012
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

CHILD HEALTH NURSES
51. Hon LINDA SAVAGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the Premier's Statement of 21 February
2012 and his plans to co-locate services, including child health nurses on
school and other community sites.
(1) Will any
child health nurses be moved from their existing locations to provide services
at these yet-to-be-announced school or community sites?
(2) Will additional child health nurses be employed for these
new centres?
(3) Will the
minister commit to providing additional funding in the 2012–13 state
budget to address the current shortage of over 150 child health nurses in
Western Australia?
(4) As of 1
January 2012, how many child health nurses does the Department of Health say it
needs to meet current demand?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member
for some notice of the question.
(1) Yes.
(2) These matters
are subject to budget deliberations for 2012–13.
(3) As above.
(4) The Department of Health has advised in
responses to previous parliamentary questions in 2011 that there was a need for
an additional 106.4 full-time equivalent child health staff statewide. The
Department of Health currently employs 197.9 FTE. There is no new information
as of 1 January 2012.

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