In relation to the PADP program why is it much faster to have equipment paid for by a charity, such as the Variety Club, than by the Government Department funded to fulfil this role and meet this need? Has the agreement that PADP would be responsible for maintaining and repairing any equipment for children supplied and paid for by Variety Club now ceased? If so, why? Is PADP so chronically under-funded that they can no longer honour this agreement? Do you think it is fair that parents and unpaid Carers are now made to foot the bill for this - especially considering that The Variety Club is providing for the unmet need that your Department is responsible for? Are you aware that children (such as the 5 year old son of a constituent) are developing further problems and deformities such as severe Scoliosis and experiencing chronic pain because of inappropriate seating due to the long wait for appropriate equipment such as wheelchairs? Do you think that children who already face many challenges in life due to their disability should be further disadvantaged in this way? What does your Government plan to do about the shortfall in funding to PADP?
I am advised that: As we do not have access to data related to waiting times and application processes for people who apply to charities for equipment we do not know what the differences in waiting times are. PADP is only required to meet the cost of the most economically clinically appropriate item. Charities (such as the Variety Club) are sometimes approached by clients and prescribers when the items being requested exceed the cost of the most clinically appropriate item. Reforms currently being undertaken to PADP will result in more equitable access to PADP regardless of where a client may live. This agreement has not ceased. PADP policy remains that PADP may assist with the costs of maintaining and repairing an item supplied by another organisation. In situations where this occurs, the client may be asked to consider returning the item to PADP for recycling if and when the item was no longer required. This agreement continues to be honoured. The PADP budget in 2007⁄08 is $24.2M. A further $0.8M is allocated for the Spinal Setup Fund to provide for the equipment setup costs of people with traumatic spinal cord injuries. This represents a doubling of the budget since 2000⁄2001. Parents and unpaid carers can apply to PADP for assistance with the costs of maintaining and repairing this equipment under the current PADP policy. If the Hon. Member would like to provide the details of the 5 year old he was referring to, NSW Health will investigate this issue further. The NSW Government is committed to supporting children with long term disabilities and ensuring that services are responsive to their needs. The NSW Government recently released its response to a comprehensive independent review of the Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP) by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC). The recommendations of the review provide an opportunity to develop an integrated, consistent, cost-effective and equitable approach to the delivery of all NSW Health disability support services. The independent PADP Review recommended that the Government implement major reforms to improve the program's efficiency, consistency and quality. The Government has endorsed the key recommendation in the Review of PADP "that all PADP functions be transferred from the existing Lodgement Centres across NSW to one statewide administration". This reform, along with key initiatives such as: progressive extension of new procurement arrangements to PADP centres across NSW following positive evaluation of procurement pilots establishment of statewide advisors to provide better support for clinicians making complex equipment prescriptions a statewide 1800 number to provide clients and clinicians information abut the program enhancement of the existing spinal setup fund to include children and adults with acquired brain injury development of standardised application processes and guidance for prescribing clinicians through the Common Equipment Prescriber Guidelines Project and · development of a web based information system (which will improve the program efficiency and administrative processes and provide support for consumers and prescribers) will mean that the delivery of disability equipment support services will be integrated, consistent, cost-effective and equitable. All savings achieved through program reforms will be redirected back into the program and used to purchase equipment for people with disabilities. Once these reforms have been implemented, the Government will review demand for equipment support services.
I am advised that: