❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding unfilled vacancies and waiting times for speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists in metropolitan hospitals as of June 30, 2010. The response indicates generally low vacancy rates but varying waiting times depending on the hospital and patient priority.
AnsweredQoN 3793Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) As at 30 June 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 30 June 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 30 June 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
21 September 2010
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
33 days
Child and Adolescent Health Service
Princess Margaret Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a)
6.8 weeks.
(b) 2 weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
(1) 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 time vary significantly. For example, patients referred with swallowing problems are normally seen within 1 - 2 weeks and patients with communication problems (language/speech/voice) are seen within 2 - 6 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 2 hours, ward inpatients are seen within 24 - 48 hours and outpatients are seen within 1 day to 6 weeks depending on the diagnosis and urgency. An acute hand injury outpatient will be seen within 1 day but a community long term disabled outpatient may need to wait several weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Graylands Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) One.
(c) Nil.
(2) Not applicable. The position has been filled on a temporary basis, pending recruitment and selection.
(3) Open recruitment process is underway.
(4)(a) Two weeks.
(b) No waiting time.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
King Edward Memorial Hospital
(1)(a) Not applicable - service not provided.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable - service not provided.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Not applicable.
(b) 2 weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Osborne Park Hospital
(1)(a) Not applicable. Speech Pathology - Paediatrics functions as part of Child Development Services.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (1)(a).
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Paediatric Outpatients: Average is 11 months.
Waiting times within child development services are based on a 5-tier priority system with high priority children waiting much less time than low priority children.
Inpatients: Dependent upon clinical presentation, range between 24-72 hours.
Outpatients: Dependent upon clinical presentation, range between 1-12 weeks.
(b) In-patients 1-2 working days.
Day Hospital and Community patients are screened (using telephone screening tool) on receipt of referral and prioritised according to need:
Priority 1 - within 2-3 working days.
Priority 2 - within 2-3 weeks.
Priority 3 - within 4-8 weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Swan District Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Inpatients: Same day up to two days. Outpatients: Up to two weeks.
(b) Inpatients:
depending on urgency - within two days on the ward, if needing a home visit - done prior to discharge if required for safe discharge. Other home visits - within a week. Outpatients:
Home visits - Screened for priority; high priority completed within two weeks, moderate priority within a month, low priority within three months (a few will wait six months due to lower priority or funding issues). Hands / splinting / stroke / Aged care day Therapy - within a few weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Kalamunda Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Not applicable as outpatients not offered.
(b) Inpatients: Within two days including home visits. Outpatients: Home visits - Screened for priority; high priority completed within two weeks, moderate priority within a month, low priority within three months (a few will wait six months due to lower priority or funding issues). Hands / splinting / stroke / Aged care day Therapy - within a few weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
Armadale Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency; average wait time 4 weeks.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Bentley Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) One.
(c) Nil.
(2) Less than three months.
(3) Recruitment process in progress
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Fremantle Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) 0.6 FTE was vacant on 30 June 2010. This position was filled on 2 August 2010.
(c) See answer to (1)(a).
(2) Six months.
(3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) There is no wait time for inpatients. Patients are seen on day of referral usually within 2-3 hours. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency. Usual wait time is 2 weeks for outpatient dysphasia and up to 3 months for outpatient communication.
(b) No wait time to be seen as an inpatient. Average wait time for GP referred community patients in the areas of hand therapy, lymphoedema management and domiciliary home visiting (provision of domiciliary equipment and home modification) - 8 weeks from receipt of referral.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Rockingham Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Adult outpatients 3 months; 3 days for inpatients.
(b) Adult outpatients and inpatients 10.6 days and 18.6 days for home visiting.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Royal Perth Hospital
(1)(a) 0.5 FTE.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (1)(a).
(2) 2 months.
(3) Approval to advertise position initiated.
(4)(a) Inpatient Urgent: same day Non urgent: 3 days; Outpatients Urgent: 8 days Non urgent: 11 weeks.
(b) Inpatient Urgent: 4 hours Non urgent: 48 hours; Outpatients varies depending on diagnosis, acuity and urgency flagged by referral: Urgent within 3 days; Non urgent within 7days.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
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Princess Margaret Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a)
6.8 weeks.
(b) 2 weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
(1) 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 time vary significantly. For example, patients referred with swallowing problems are normally seen within 1 - 2 weeks and patients with communication problems (language/speech/voice) are seen within 2 - 6 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 2 hours, ward inpatients are seen within 24 - 48 hours and outpatients are seen within 1 day to 6 weeks depending on the diagnosis and urgency. An acute hand injury outpatient will be seen within 1 day but a community long term disabled outpatient may need to wait several weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Graylands Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) One.
(c) Nil.
(2) Not applicable. The position has been filled on a temporary basis, pending recruitment and selection.
(3) Open recruitment process is underway.
(4)(a) Two weeks.
(b) No waiting time.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
King Edward Memorial Hospital
(1)(a) Not applicable - service not provided.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable - service not provided.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Not applicable.
(b) 2 weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Osborne Park Hospital
(1)(a) Not applicable. Speech Pathology - Paediatrics functions as part of Child Development Services.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (1)(a).
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Paediatric Outpatients: Average is 11 months.
Waiting times within child development services are based on a 5-tier priority system with high priority children waiting much less time than low priority children.
Inpatients: Dependent upon clinical presentation, range between 24-72 hours.
Outpatients: Dependent upon clinical presentation, range between 1-12 weeks.
(b) In-patients 1-2 working days.
Day Hospital and Community patients are screened (using telephone screening tool) on receipt of referral and prioritised according to need:
Priority 1 - within 2-3 working days.
Priority 2 - within 2-3 weeks.
Priority 3 - within 4-8 weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Swan District Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Inpatients: Same day up to two days. Outpatients: Up to two weeks.
(b) Inpatients:
depending on urgency - within two days on the ward, if needing a home visit - done prior to discharge if required for safe discharge. Other home visits - within a week. Outpatients:
Home visits - Screened for priority; high priority completed within two weeks, moderate priority within a month, low priority within three months (a few will wait six months due to lower priority or funding issues). Hands / splinting / stroke / Aged care day Therapy - within a few weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Kalamunda Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Not applicable as outpatients not offered.
(b) Inpatients: Within two days including home visits. Outpatients: Home visits - Screened for priority; high priority completed within two weeks, moderate priority within a month, low priority within three months (a few will wait six months due to lower priority or funding issues). Hands / splinting / stroke / Aged care day Therapy - within a few weeks.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
South Metropolitan Area Health Service
Armadale Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency; average wait time 4 weeks.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Bentley Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) One.
(c) Nil.
(2) Less than three months.
(3) Recruitment process in progress
(4)(a) No wait time for inpatients. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Fremantle Hospital
(1)(a) Nil.
(b) 0.6 FTE was vacant on 30 June 2010. This position was filled on 2 August 2010.
(c) See answer to (1)(a).
(2) Six months.
(3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) There is no wait time for inpatients. Patients are seen on day of referral usually within 2-3 hours. Outpatients are prioritised according to degree of urgency. Usual wait time is 2 weeks for outpatient dysphasia and up to 3 months for outpatient communication.
(b) No wait time to be seen as an inpatient. Average wait time for GP referred community patients in the areas of hand therapy, lymphoedema management and domiciliary home visiting (provision of domiciliary equipment and home modification) - 8 weeks from receipt of referral.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Rockingham Hospital
(1) Nil.
(2 - 3) Not applicable.
(4)(a) Adult outpatients 3 months; 3 days for inpatients.
(b) Adult outpatients and inpatients 10.6 days and 18.6 days for home visiting.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
Royal Perth Hospital
(1)(a) 0.5 FTE.
(b) Nil.
(c) See answer to (1)(a).
(2) 2 months.
(3) Approval to advertise position initiated.
(4)(a) Inpatient Urgent: same day Non urgent: 3 days; Outpatients Urgent: 8 days Non urgent: 11 weeks.
(b) Inpatient Urgent: 4 hours Non urgent: 48 hours; Outpatients varies depending on diagnosis, acuity and urgency flagged by referral: Urgent within 3 days; Non urgent within 7days.
(c) See answer to (4)(a).
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