A shortage of specialist health staff and equipment at Perth Children’s Hospital is forcing some families to travel interstate for treatment.
Key points:
- Catalina Kovacevich’s surgery was cancelled, forcing her to travel interstate
- There are 35 other children with her condition waiting for surgery
- Liberal leader Libby Mettam says the government needs to do better
Catalina Kovacevich, 5, was born with a rare genetic condition which causes tumours to grow in her brain, and other parts of her body.
She had been scheduled for surgery at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) early this year to remove brain tumours which were causing seizures, but the surgery was then cancelled due to a lack of necessary equipment.
It sent Catalina and her family into a spin, with the five-year-old eventually travelling with her mother Kirsten to another state for treatment.
“Travelling with a child with autism is difficult at the best of times. It just also means splitting up our family,” Ms Kovacevic said.
She said while her family were able to afford the cost of travel, and were able to stay with family, others may not be as fortunate.
“What about other people who can’t go interstate, they can’t just jump on the plane?” Ms Kovacevic said.
Catalina requires a video electroencephalograph (VEEG) to monitor her seizures before surgery.
The service has been suspended at PCH since June due to a “critical shortage” of neurophysiology scientists which are required for the monitoring, according to Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
“However, in the event of a child having complex epilepsy, and the need for urgent consideration of epilepsy surgery, a VEEG can still be provided at PCH,” she told parliament.
Catalina has travelled to both Melbourne and Brisbane in the past to access the service.
35 kids on waiting list
Speaking with the family at a press conference on Thursday, Liberal leader Libby Mettam said the predicament was a result of the state government failing to prioritise funding for health services, and finding staff.
“It is simply not good enough that children such as Catalina have to go to other states for this necessary treatment, because this treatment is not available in Western Australia,” she said.
“In the instances where the specialist isn’t available, they [the government] should absolutely fund the travel for Catalina and her family.”
Ms Sanderson said there were 35 children on the hospital waitlist requiring VEEG monitoring.
“PCH has commenced new initiatives to increase staff retention … PCH is also actively recruiting both in Australia and internationally to ensure the VEEG services can be re-established,” she said.
However, for families like the Kovacevics, who have had to travel on numerous occasions due to a lack of available treatment in WA, they say the issue represents a lack of priority by the government.
“Find the right staff. Spend some money in the medical industry and the neurology industry – they need it, and kids need it,” she said.
“I don’t think there should be any expense spared when it comes to children and medical treatment.”