Legislative Council, Wednesday 24 May 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) provided physiotherapy services to King Island, I am informed - and it is some time ago when I first put this question - there is a wait list of 45 people - probably more now - including some requiring critical post-operative physiotherapy, and there are also long wait times. I also understand there is a fly-in service for one day per fortnight whereby the physiotherapist flies in and out the same day and thus only has part of the day available for appointments.

(1) Will the minister consider a two-consecutive-day service to enable full utilisation of available time for appointments; and

(a) if not, why not?

(2) Will the minister consider the appointment of a physiotherapy assistant to support the visiting physiotherapist and provide support on King Island to patients between visits by the physiotherapist?

ANSWER

I thank the member for her question.

(1) the provision of health services to remote sites such as King Island is a priority for the Government. A variety of physiotherapist services are provided across the north-west including acute, subacute and ambulatory services. Referrals may be made to the physiotherapy service in the north-west are triaged on clinical priority.

The Tasmanian Health Service continues to monitor services provided to the community to ensure the delivery of efficient and effective services across the north-west.

The Tasmanian Government recognises the unique challenges that residents of King Island and the Furneaux Group islands can face in accessing allied health and preventative health services. Recent changes to the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme aim to address these issues by providing support for residents to travel off island to access these services, including physiotherapy.

(2) Physiotherapy and other allied health assistants play an important role of supporting qualified physiotherapists in their work in acute inpatient areas, including for patient rehabilitation.

Their use across the physiotherapy workforce is frequently reviewed; however, I am advised that most physiotherapy patients seen as outpatients, including on King Island, can complete programs provided by qualified physiotherapists, independently at home without need for support from allied health assistants.