❓ A parliamentary question regarding funding cuts to the universal newborn hearing screening program in WA, highlighting concerns about the impact on early detection and long-term savings. The Minister defends the decision based on expert advice suggesting resources are better directed towards at-risk children.
AnsweredQoN 1136Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to his decision last week to slash $300 000 from the universal newborn hearing screening program. (1) Is the minister aware that this program screens 46 per cent of children born in Western Australia - that is, 25 000 children - for permanent hearing loss? (2) Is the minister further aware that health economists at the University of Adelaide have estimated that when permanent hearing loss is detected by the age of six months and the child provided with intervention, the lifetime savings to the community are $1.2 million a child? (3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(1) Is the minister aware that this program screens 46 per cent of children born in Western Australia - that is, 25 000 children - for permanent hearing loss? (2) Is the minister further aware that health economists at the University of Adelaide have estimated that when permanent hearing loss is detected by the age of six months and the child provided with intervention, the lifetime savings to the community are $1.2 million a child? (3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(2) Is the minister further aware that health economists at the University of Adelaide have estimated that when permanent hearing loss is detected by the age of six months and the child provided with intervention, the lifetime savings to the community are $1.2 million a child? (3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(1) Is the minister aware that this program screens 46 per cent of children born in Western Australia - that is, 25 000 children - for permanent hearing loss? (2) Is the minister further aware that health economists at the University of Adelaide have estimated that when permanent hearing loss is detected by the age of six months and the child provided with intervention, the lifetime savings to the community are $1.2 million a child? (3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(2) Is the minister further aware that health economists at the University of Adelaide have estimated that when permanent hearing loss is detected by the age of six months and the child provided with intervention, the lifetime savings to the community are $1.2 million a child? (3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(3) Is the minister further aware that Harvey Coates of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has described the minister’s decision as the most short-sighted and retrograde decision in ear health in the past 25 years? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
(1)-(3) The program the member for Murdoch referred to was reviewed. I am sure he has read the conclusions of the review of that program. It showed that in the past three years more than 32 000 children in the metropolitan area but not the country have been screened for hearing defects. Of those 32 000 children, 22 showed a positive result; in other words, had a problem with their hearing that needed to be dealt with. We have received mixed expert advice. Harvey Coates, who earlier today was here recording with Channel Seven and providing briefings, is of one view. He is a champion of that particular point of view. Other people have a different point of view. They believe that universal screening for such a very small return is a waste of resources. We have accepted the view of those people. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I wonder what those 22 families think. Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Is it done in the member’s electorate? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I will talk to you later about the programs you are cutting in my electorate. Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: A minority of children in Western Australia are screened. The important point to note is that there is a considerable body of expert opinion that the screening of children with such a low return is a waste of resources and that we are far better directing those resources towards those children who are recognised as being at risk. That is also in the review. We are making sure that the resources are directed to those at-risk children, who return a far higher incidence of hearing defects when tested as part of the same program.
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