Question On Notice No. 544 asked in the Legislative Council on 17 February 2022 by Hon Donna Faragher
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
I refer to child development services provided by the WA Country Health Service, and I ask, will the Minister advise the current median wait times for children in the primary years of schooling to access a pediatrician, audiologist and clinical psychologist in each of the following health regions:
(a) Kimberley;
(b) Pilbara;
(c) Midwest;
(d) Goldfields;
(e) Wheatbelt;
(f) South West; and
(g) Great Southern?
Answered on 24 March 2022
(a)-(g) The method of delivery of audiology and paediatric services in country WA varies and may be provided by WA Country Health Service (WACHS) employed clinicians or external services contracted by WACHS.
In some areas audiology and clinical psychiatry services are provided by Aboriginal Medical Services or Non-Government Organisations. Wait list data for these providers is not held by WACHS.
The median waiting time for children (5-11 years) for therapy services (days) from receipt of referral for child development services to attendance at the first appointment is provided in the table below.
Region
|
Audiology
|
Clinical Psychology
|
Developmental Paediatrics*
|
Kimberley
|
47.5
|
Data not captured separately
|
Data for referrals to developmental paediatricians is not captured separately to other paediatrician referrals.
|
Pilbara
|
76.5
|
344
|
Midwest
|
139
|
67
|
Goldfields
|
41.5
|
123.5
|
Wheatbelt
|
Data not captured separately
|
Data not captured separately
|
South West
|
77
|
Data not captured separately
|
Great Southern
|
207
|
167
|