Question On Notice No. 1604 asked in the Legislative Council on 28 August 2018 by Hon Alison Xamon
Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to your previous response to question without notice number No. 776, and I ask:
(a) has progress been made by WA Health towards implementing an evidence-based approach to lyme-like disease and tick-borne illnesses in the Western Australian health system;
(b) if yes to (1), please detail what actions have been taken;
(c) if no to (1), why not; and
(d) is consideration being given to the establishment of a state-wide specialist support service for people with lyme-like illness or tick-borne disease?
Answered on 9 October 2018
(a)-(b) The Western Australia (WA) Department of Health is committed to a nationally coordinated and consistent approach regarding Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT).
A representative from the WA Department of Health attended a forum in Melbourne in April 2018 to consider the outcomes of the Australian Government’s response to the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee final report: Inquiry into the growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a Lyme-like illness for many Australians. There was general consensus at this forum that further research and better treatment pathways for patients were needed, and that a second forum should be conducted with a broader representation from patient support groups. This second forum was held in Sydney on 27 July 2018. When published, the report from this forum will be used to inform the WA Department of Health approach.
(c) WA is currently awaiting further information to be released in a report from the July DSCATT Patient Forum.
(d) Additional information is needed to inform a decision on establishing a statewide specialist support service for people with debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks in WA. It is anticipated that the report on the 27 July 2018 DSCATT Patient Forum will be beneficial in this regard.