House of Assembly
Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
52
1
Parliament of South Australia
House of Assembly
published
Answers to Questions
Health Services, Waiting Times
HEALTH SERVICES, WAITING TIMES
Dr McFETRIDGE
House of Assembly
Morphett
HEALTH SERVICES, WAITING TIMES
81 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010). How many people have been referred to, how many are on the waiting list, what is the average waiting time for patients waiting to receive their first consultation or appointment from the date of referral and how are patients prioritised for treatment for each of the following services—North and West Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Child and Youth Health, Women's Health Statewide, Second Story, Yarrow Place Services, Hospital Links, Child and Family Integration Services and Child Protection Services?
The Hon. J.D. HILL
House of Assembly
Kaurna
Minister for Health
Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Minister for the Southern Suburbs
Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts
HEALTH SERVICES, WAITING TIMES
The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised:
1.	How many people have been referred to the service? (2009-10)
| Health Service |
Women's Health Statewide |
1338 Healthline clients (self referral) |
129 clients referred for Counselling |
| Second Story, Youth Health Service |
2,122 Unique clients received 6,011 occasions of service 1:1 and there were 2,293 group attendances |
| Hospital Links |
180 (total of unique clients) |
| Yarrow Place Services |
3,030 (total number of services) |
| Child Protection Services |
1,509 |
| Child and Family Health (CaMHS) |
19,322 Universal Contact Visits |
| Child and Family Integration Service (CFIS) |
203 |
| North and West CaMHS |
Northern 854; Western 493 |
2.	How many are on a waiting list currently?
| Health Service |
| Women's Health Statewide |
No waiting list |
| Counselling: 4 |
| Second Story, Youth Health Service |
There is no waiting list if clients fit the criteria of the service. |
| Hospital Links |
No waiting list |
| Yarrow Place Services |
No waiting lists. All clients who meet the service criteria are allocated to an appointment |
| Child Protection Services |
39 |
| Child and Family Health (CaMHS) |
No wait list |
| Child and Family Integration Service (CFIS) |
No wait list |
| North and West CaMHS |
Northern 34; Western 0 |
3.	What is the average time for patients waiting to receive their first consultation or appointment from the date of referral?
| Health Service |
| Women's Health Statewide |
Healthline: 0-30 minutes |
| Counselling: 2-4 weeks |
| Second Story, Youth Health Service |
1-2 weeks |
| Hospital Links |
Within 5 working days |
| Yarrow Place Services |
For recent rape or sexual assault (having occurred within the last 3 days): client is seen for crisis counselling and medical/forensic service within 2 hours.Requests for on-going counselling: recent assault (within past 12 months) 3-4 weeks wait; past assault (12 months ago or longer) 4-6 weeks wait |
| Child Protection Services |
Psychosocial Assessment—32 daysTherapy—36 daysMedical (routine)—4 days Medical Urgent—immediately |
| Child and Family Health (CaMHS) |
89.77 per cent within 2-4 weeks, 96.97 within 4-6 weeks |
| Child and Family Integration Service (CFIS) |
1 week |
| North and West CaMHS |
Average of 8 days |
4.	How are patients prioritised for treatment?
| Health Service |
| Women's Health Statewide |
- All services are for women.
-
Healthline: is a telephone assistance line
|
- Counselling is based on need, women with mental health problems, such as suicidal ideation and the effects of violence and abuse, are given priority.
|
| Second Story, Youth Health Service |
- All clients have a risk assessment
- Clients at high risk receive a service within 24 hours
- Extreme risk receive an immediate response/service
|
| Hospital Links |
- Homeless young people and suicidal clients receive a service immediately.
|
| Yarrow Place Services |
- Triaged according to the time since the assault occurred:
- Within 3 days
- Within past 12 months
- 12 months or longer
- Suicidal clients will receive a service immediately.
|
| Child Protection Services |
- Medical Forensics Examination—Immediate
- Urgent Psychosocial—within 2 weeks.
- Assessments are prioritised based on safety of child, age of child, circumstances, and urgent cases seen within 1 week.
- Therapy is prioritised depending on child safety, child needs and urgency of referral
- Keeping Them Safe—within 8 weeks
|
| Child and Family Health (CaMHS) |
- Clients are assessed at the Universal Contact Visit and then the appropriate pathway or program is identified to best meet their needs.
|
| Child and Family Integration Service (CFIS) |
- Staff respond to client needs and while there are no wait time issues with CFIS, priority is given to families who have a new born or young infant where there are child safety issues or concerns.
|
| North and West CaMHS |
- Patients are prioritised for service based on a range of factors, including severity of the presenting mental health issue and the impact on the functioning of the child and family/carer.
- Those children and young people at highest risk receive priority allocation. There are specific population groups who are prioritised on the basis of known vulnerability factors.
- These groups include Aboriginal children, families from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and children under the guardianship of the Minister for Families and Communities.
|