CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SERVICE — CHILD HEALTH
APPOINTMENTS
587. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the answer provided to
question without notice 477 asked on 19 May 2022 on the delivery of child
health appointments undertaken by community health nurses and the reference to
the red phase of the Western Australian COVID-19 framework for system alert and
response.
Can the minister advise whether the
following services are now being offered to families: face-to-face drop-in
sessions; face-to-face parenting groups; and face-to-face child development
service appointments?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The Child and Adolescent Health
Service continues to provide services in line with the red phase of the Western Australian COVID-19 framework for system
alert and response. Drop-in clinics and parenting groups have not occurred during the SAR red alert phase;
however, children who required face-to-face child health appointments,
including child development service appointments, have been seen face to face
at community clinics throughout the pandemic, as well as in the home as
required. There is currently no change to services that are provided via
telehealth or in person.
Also consistent with the red alert
phase, WA Country Health Service child development services are currently being offered via telehealth and face to face. The
individual needs of the child and family are taken into consideration
when determining the most suitable modality. Face-to-face services are
prioritised when the child development service is unable to meet the clinical
need of the client via telehealth.
From 15 August 2022, the WA Health
COVID-19 SAR framework will shift to a blue alert phase and child health
parenting groups and child development services will resume being provided face
to face where physical distancing can be accommodated at the venue.