Wait times for children needing to see a paediatrician through the public system in Western Australia have blown out to nearly two years, sparking criticism from the opposition.
Median wait times for metropolitan children
The median wait time for metropolitan children to see a paediatrician through the Child Development Services scheme is now 23.9 months, an increase of more than seven months since the end of November. The wait for a psychologist is close to a year at 11.4 months, while the time taken to see an occupational therapist is 8.4 months. Children will need to wait 5.4 months for a speech pathologist, 4.1 months for an audiologist, and 1.4 months for a physiotherapist.
Shadow health minister Libby Mettam said the wait times were an indictment on the government. “For parents worried about their child’s health or development, these delays mean more uncertainty, more stress and more children missing out on critical intervention,” she said. “Two years is a significant part of a child’s early development and the fact wait times are getting worse, not better, is a damning reflection of the Cook Labor Government’s neglect of the health system over the past decade.”
12,000 children on wait list
As of October, 12,000 children were on the metropolitan wait list for a paediatrician. According to the Department of Health’s website, paediatricians in the service assess and diagnose children with developmental issues such as ADHD, autism, or other developmental delays.
Responding to questioning in Parliament this week, Health Minister Meredith Hammat said some wait times had decreased in the last year, such as for metropolitan psychologists. “I will make the point that of course we want to do work to bring those wait times down,” she said. “There are shortages of paediatricians in particular, they are extremely difficult to recruit, not just here but around Australia and internationally. It is a complex area in which to train as well. Of course, we do want to see those wait times come down, which is why we are continuing to invest in our Child Development Services to achieve that.”
Regional children fare better
The wait time for regional children is somewhat better, with the wait for a paediatrician at 9.2 months, while audiologists have a six-month wait and physiotherapists nearly three months. However, Ms Mettam said the wait was often compounded by the long distances required to access services for regional families. “We know early intervention can make a life-changing difference to a child’s development and wellbeing, yet families are being forced to either wait an unacceptable length of time or travel long distances to access care,” she said. “Parents are exhausted, frustrated, and increasingly losing confidence in a system that is failing to provide timely support for vulnerable children.”
