A Brimbank health nurse has condemned failings in multi-disciplinary assessments at Sunshine Hospital.
‘Melinda’, who didn’t want her surname used, told the Weekly that long waiting lists for multi-disciplinary assessments — for children with difficulties in more than one area — were “not good enough”.
“It’s a massive problem we maternal and child health nurses are facing,” she said. “We make assessments and refer the children to Sunshine Hospital only to be told they can’t be seen before they start school so they can’t be put on the waiting list. This isn’t good enough.”
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As reported by the Weekly, local educators have launched a petition calling for funding for additional staff and services amid fears that 58 preschool-age children experiencing development difficulties will miss out on important assessments before the 2014 school year.
BPA Children’s Services chief executive Steve Sutton, representing a cluster of kindergartens and childcare centres, said the situation was potentially dangerous.
‘‘Schools will be overwhelmed at the start of the year when it becomes apparent that some children have additional needs that have not been diagnosed,’’ he said.
Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Wendy Lovell said families of children not on the waiting list could access free assessments through early school enrolment and the paediatric program at Melton Health.
“We have ensured that all children on the waiting list who require an assessment for the 2014 school year will get one,” she said.
“Western Health is currently progressing assessments for 58 children, which will be finalised by December this year.’’
Ms Lovell said there had been no reduction to funding provided for specialist health services at Western Health.
