❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding unfilled vacancies and waiting times for speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists at metropolitan hospitals as of March 31, 2010. The responses indicate generally low vacancy rates but varying outpatient waiting times depending on the hospital and urgency.
AnsweredQoN 3062Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) As at 31 March 2010, how many unfilled vacancies existed at each metropolitan hospital for:
(a) speech pathologists;
(b) occupational therapists; and
(c) speech therapists?
(2) How long has each vacancy existed?
(3) What action is being taken to fill these positions?
(4) As at 31 March 2010, what was the average waiting time at a metropolitan hospital to see a:
(a) speech pathologist;
(b) occupational therapist; and
(c) speech therapist?
(a) speech pathologists;
(b) occupational therapists; and
(c) speech therapists?
(2) How long has each vacancy existed?
(3) What action is being taken to fill these positions?
(4) As at 31 March 2010, what was the average waiting time at a metropolitan hospital to see a:
(a) speech pathologist;
(b) occupational therapist; and
(c) speech therapist?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
33 days
Child and Adolescent Health Service
Princess Margaret Hospital
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Two days for inpatients, two weeks for urgent outpatients, four weeks for high risk outpatients, twelve weeks for moderate risk outpatients, six months for low risk outpatients.
(b) Outpatients are offered an appointment usually within two weeks.
(c) See question (4)(a).
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
Women's and Newborn Health Service (includes King Edward Memorial Hospital)
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4a - c) Nil.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Waiting time depends upon clinical condition and setting. For example, acute inpatients are seen within 24 - 48 hours of referral. Outpatient waiting times vary significantly. For example, patients referred with swallowing problems are normally seen within one to two weeks and patients with communication problems (language/speech/voice) are seen within two to six weeks. Subsequent treatment allocations are made based on clinical need and available resource.
(b) Occupational Therapy prioritise their waiting list depending on clinical diagnosis and acuity of the medical condition. For example emergency department patients are seen within two hours, ward inpatients are seen within 24 - 48 hours and outpatients are seen within one day to six weeks depending on the diagnosis and urgency. An acute hand injury outpatient will be seen within one day but a community long term disabled outpatient may need to wait several weeks.
(c) Nil.
Swan Kalamunda Health Service (includes Swan District Hospital and Kalamunda Hospital)
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4a - c) Nil.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
Armadale Hospital
(1a - b) No vacant positions.
(c) No speech therapist positions at Armadale Hospital.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency.
(b) Inpatients are prioritised and seen within hours or days.
Outpatients are prioritised and wait time varies depending on diagnosis, acuity and the urgency flagged by referral. Community Aids and Equipment and home visiting is between 1 - 14 weeks.
(c) Not applicable.
Bentley Hospital
(1a - b) Nil.
(c) No speech therapist positions at Bentley.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency.
(b) Home visiting service for assessment for community clients for aids and equipment is approximately seven months.
(c) Not applicable.
Fremantle Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) One.
(c) Nil.
(2) Since January 2010.
(3) Position has been advertised once (February 2010) with no suitable applications received. The position was readvertised and closed on 7 June 2010.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency. Two weeks for outpatient dysphagia and up to three months for outpatient communication.
(b) No wait time to be seen as an inpatient. Average wait time for GP referred community patients - 8 weeks from receipt of referral.
(c) Same as 4(a).
Rockingham General Hospital
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Nil.
(4)(a) Adult Outpatients: One month, three days.
(b) Outpatients and Inpatients: Five days. Home visiting: Eight days.
(c) Adult Outpatients: One month, three days.
Royal Perth Hospital
(1a - b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Inpatient: Urgent - six hours; Non-urgent - 48 hours. Outpatient varies depending on diagnosis, complexity and urgency flagged by referral.
(b) Inpatient: Urgent - four hours; Non-urgent - 48 hours. Outpatient varies depending on diagnosis, acuity and the urgency flagged by referral.
Home Visiting: Urgent within three days; Non-urgent within seven days.
(c) Not applicable.
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Princess Margaret Hospital
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Two days for inpatients, two weeks for urgent outpatients, four weeks for high risk outpatients, twelve weeks for moderate risk outpatients, six months for low risk outpatients.
(b) Outpatients are offered an appointment usually within two weeks.
(c) See question (4)(a).
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
Women's and Newborn Health Service (includes King Edward Memorial Hospital)
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4a - c) Nil.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Waiting time depends upon clinical condition and setting. For example, acute inpatients are seen within 24 - 48 hours of referral. Outpatient waiting times vary significantly. For example, patients referred with swallowing problems are normally seen within one to two weeks and patients with communication problems (language/speech/voice) are seen within two to six weeks. Subsequent treatment allocations are made based on clinical need and available resource.
(b) Occupational Therapy prioritise their waiting list depending on clinical diagnosis and acuity of the medical condition. For example emergency department patients are seen within two hours, ward inpatients are seen within 24 - 48 hours and outpatients are seen within one day to six weeks depending on the diagnosis and urgency. An acute hand injury outpatient will be seen within one day but a community long term disabled outpatient may need to wait several weeks.
(c) Nil.
Swan Kalamunda Health Service (includes Swan District Hospital and Kalamunda Hospital)
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4a - c) Nil.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
Armadale Hospital
(1a - b) No vacant positions.
(c) No speech therapist positions at Armadale Hospital.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency.
(b) Inpatients are prioritised and seen within hours or days.
Outpatients are prioritised and wait time varies depending on diagnosis, acuity and the urgency flagged by referral. Community Aids and Equipment and home visiting is between 1 - 14 weeks.
(c) Not applicable.
Bentley Hospital
(1a - b) Nil.
(c) No speech therapist positions at Bentley.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency.
(b) Home visiting service for assessment for community clients for aids and equipment is approximately seven months.
(c) Not applicable.
Fremantle Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) One.
(c) Nil.
(2) Since January 2010.
(3) Position has been advertised once (February 2010) with no suitable applications received. The position was readvertised and closed on 7 June 2010.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency. Two weeks for outpatient dysphagia and up to three months for outpatient communication.
(b) No wait time to be seen as an inpatient. Average wait time for GP referred community patients - 8 weeks from receipt of referral.
(c) Same as 4(a).
Rockingham General Hospital
(1a - c) Nil.
(2 - 3) Nil.
(4)(a) Adult Outpatients: One month, three days.
(b) Outpatients and Inpatients: Five days. Home visiting: Eight days.
(c) Adult Outpatients: One month, three days.
Royal Perth Hospital
(1a - b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Inpatient: Urgent - six hours; Non-urgent - 48 hours. Outpatient varies depending on diagnosis, complexity and urgency flagged by referral.
(b) Inpatient: Urgent - four hours; Non-urgent - 48 hours. Outpatient varies depending on diagnosis, acuity and the urgency flagged by referral.
Home Visiting: Urgent within three days; Non-urgent within seven days.
(c) Not applicable.
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