Page 3365 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 12 October 1993

MINISTER FOR HEALTH

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION N0.964

Disabled Preschool Children - Physiotherapy Services

Mr Cornwell - asked the Minister for Health

(1) Has there been a reduction in hours of treatment available for physiotherapy,

services for disabled pre-school children, as recently claimed in the media

(Letter to the Editor, The Canberra Times 31 July 1993) and if so why.

(2) What hours of service are provided (a) in the ACT and (b) interstate for such ,

children.

(3) How many such children require treatment in the ACT.

(4) What services are provided in the ACT for such children.

Mr Berry - the answer to Mr Cornwells question is

(1) There has been no decision by ACT Health to reduce physiotherapy hours of

treatment available for disabled pre-school children. There have been some

recent staff changes which have had the short term effect of temporarily reducing

the number of appointments for some clients.

(2) (a) ACT Health Child Health and Development Service offers appointments on

the basis of clinical need which varies between children, their stage of

development and parents desire to attend. Physiotherapists often provide

weekly sessions for specific clinical situations. Home visits are also important I

and are available.

(b) It is difficult to compare ACT services with interstate. ACT Government

services are accessible to all, whereas interstate services are organised

differently and often have a restriction on-the number of children accepted at

individual programs. The Spastic Centre, Sydney, offers ACT children a one

week, residential, multidisciplinary program approximately every six months

and recommendations are then included in the local program.

(3) There are approximately 300 disabled pre-school children in the ACT.

(4) ACT Health provides an Early Intervention Service through the Child Health and

Development Service. The Housing and Community Services Bureau through its

Community Access Resource Team provides services for children over three

years with an intellectual disability. In the non Government sector, there is the

Noahs Ark Toy Library which provides therapy services for some children and a

Conductive Education program.