Westmead Hospital 鈥渙ne-stop shop鈥� clinic makes access to healthcare easier for adults with a disability

26 May 2023

People with a complex developmental disability will receive greater support for their overall health at Westmead Hospital, following a successful trial of a new clinic that provides free and comprehensive health checks.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said the new clinic has been granted $50,000 a year by Western Sydney Local Health District to continue to provide access to up to nine different specialty health checks for patients.

鈥淭his important clinic provides health checks such as blood work, dental checks, scans, eye tests, ear checks and urine and bowel assessments, Mr Park said.

鈥淎ll treatments are specifically tailored to the needs of people with a complex developmental disability, ensuring patients can receive their checks as comfortably as possible.鈥�

Established in 2020, the 鈥渙ne-stop shop鈥� clinic was set up in response to the rising number of people with a disability presenting to WSLHD emergency departments with preventable conditions.

The clinic is currently supporting patients with developmental intellectual and physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy.

鈥淭his one-stop shop model is hugely beneficial to patient care, making access to health care easier for those with a physical or mental disability,鈥� Mr Park said.

鈥淚鈥檓 pleased that our hospitals can provide a practical and tailored way to support people with a disability.鈥�

鈥淚 congratulate Western Sydney Local Health District for leading the way with this important initiative.鈥�

鈥淢aking basic health services more accessible to people with disability is a life-saving initiative,鈥� said Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington.

鈥淲e are backing the 'one-stop shop' into the future because it works - ensuring better health and wellbeing of people with complex disabilities.鈥�

鈥淚t's welcome news that members of our community with complex developmental disability will have ongoing access to a convenient and targeted 鈥渙ne-stop-shop鈥� for vital health checks,鈥� said Donna Davis, Member for Parramatta.

鈥淧revention is better than cure so investment in easily accessible health checks for people with complex needs is a practical and common sense approach.鈥�

The clinic is currently supporting patients being cared for in the District鈥檚 Developmental Disability Service and is accessed via internal referrals from Westmead鈥檚 outpatient clinics.