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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 517 asked in the Legislative Council on 17 August 2021 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

ORTHOTICS — BUNBURY AND BUSSELTON

517. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the Minister for Health:

I refer to the provision of orthotics including spinal braces in Bunbury Hospital and Busselton Health Campus in the south west.

(1) Who is currently providing these services?

(2) Is the provision of these services currently a trial; and, if so, when will that trial end?

(3) What training did the people currently providing this service receive, and who provided that training?

(4) If the provision of these services has changed in the last year, why was it changed, and what cost saving, if any, has been realised?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the question.

(1) The Bunbury Hospital physiotherapist department is currently trialling the provision of these services in Bunbury. In Busselton, these services are provided by Seaview Pty Ltd.

(2) This is a trial at Bunbury Hospital and will be evaluated at the end of September 2021.

(3) For the trial service at Bunbury Hospital, people currently providing this service received training in the fitting of braces by orthotists from brace suppliers Ossur Australia and OAPL—Orthopaedic Appliances Pty Ltd.

(4) The trial service change at Bunbury Hospital has enabled delivery of a comprehensive service in conjunction with the physiotherapy program; service continuity, as it is available to patients seven days a week; and patients not being required to travel to Perth during periods of service provider unavailability. Initial estimates indicate a cost saving of approximately $15 000 over three months.