2078—Health—PADP LODGEMENT CENTRES

Mr Cohen to the Attorney General, Minister for Justice, and Acting Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for Health—

1. On what date was Oakton (formerly Acumen Alliance) appointed to conduct the approved financial and compliance audit of Area Health Services (AHS) Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP) Lodgement Centres?
2. Were all New South Wales AHS PAPD Lodgement Centres audited?
1. If not,
1. which Lodgement Centres were audited?
2. what is the criteria for a Lodgement Centre being audited?
3. Does the Department of Health or the Minister review, cite or retain annual reports completed by PADP Lodgement Centres held by respective AHSs?
1. If not, why not?
4. Does the Department of Health retain, cite or review information from the Health Care Complaints Commission in relation to PADP clients?
1. If not, why not?
5. On what date did the external auditor complete the collection of primary audit data from the AHS PADP Lodgement Centres?
6. Has the Minister or the Department of Health been shown a preliminary or draft report by Oakton?
1. If so,
1. on what date was the Minister or the Department of Health shown a preliminary report?
2. did the Minister make any representations or statements to the external auditor in relation to the draft report?
2. If not, why not?
7. During the audit process has the external consultant raised any concerns to the Minister or Department of Health about the integrity or administrative capabilities of any PADP Lodgement Centre?
1. If so, which AHS PADP Lodgement Centres?
8. Do the individual AHS keep a record of their current equipment loan pool (ELP) inventory?
9. Do the AHS record whether a user of an ELP appliance has made a request for equipment through the PADP scheme?
10. Of all applications made to PADP Lodgement Centres, how many PADP applicants⁄clients were provided with ELP appliances while they were awaiting PADP equipment procurement and processing for the following years:
1. 2005-2006?
2. 2006-2007?
11. What percentage of all PADP applicants were provided with ELP appliances while awaiting PADP equipment procurement?
12. How many PADP applicants between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2008 had been on PADP Lodgement Centre waiting lists for 12 months or longer in:
1. the Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service?
2. the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service?
3. the Sydney South West Area Health Service?
4. the Sydney West Area Health Service?
5. the Greater Southern Area Health Service?
6. the Greater Western Area Health Service?
7. the Hunter New England Area Health Service?
8. the North Coast Area Health Service?

Answer—

(1).  22 March 2007.

(2).  Yes.

(3).  No. It is currently the responsibility of each Area Health Service to report on the annual performance of each PADP Lodgement Centre within their Area.

(4). No. The Department of Health does not have jurisdiction over the Health Care Complaints Commission which operates under the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.

(5).  23 May 2008.

(6).  The auditors provided a draft report to Health Support Services, a unit of the Health Administration Corporation, on 3 June 2008. The draft report is currently under review by Health Support Services.

(7).  The auditors have documented their findings in the draft report and these are currently under review by Health Support Services.

(8) to (11).  The Government strongly supported Recommendation 28 of the Pricewaterhouse Coopers Review that Equipment Loan Pools be co-ordinated across Area Health Services to increase the availability of loan equipment. EnableNSW is working toward co-ordinated Equipment Loan Pools that interface with PADP in all Area Health Services. 
This information is not currently held centrally and the diversion of public resources necessary to provide the level of detail requested by the Member is not justifiable.

(12).  Waiting list data provided by Area Health Services, as at 30 June 2008, is as follows:
(a).  60 
(b). 306

(c). 237

(d). 3

(e). Nil

(f). 8

(g). 96

(h). 17 
It should be noted that the joint State-Commonwealth funding boost of $11 million, announced on 15 July 2008, will eliminate the current waiting list for disability aids and equipment.