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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 635 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 August 2022 by Hon Donna Faragher

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICE — SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS

635. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health:

I refer to the response provided by the Department of Health as part of the 2022–23 budget estimates that references the median wait time of 8.7 months for a child to access a speech pathologist via the metropolitan Child Development Service. How many children are currently on the waiting list to access a speech pathologist via the MCDS?

Hon SAMANTHA ROWE replied:

I thank the member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the Leader of the House, the following answer has been provided by the Minister for Health.

Currently, 5 154 children are on a waiting list to see a speech pathologist at the metropolitan Child Development Service as at 10 August 2022. Children referred to a speech pathologist are provided with a telephone service planning appointment within eight to 12 weeks of referral with a nurse or an allied health professional. At this appointment, parental concerns are discussed, the referral is triaged and parents are provided with appropriate resources for managing their child's presenting issues. During 2021–22, 32 982 children received services from the Child Development Service.