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On Thursday 31 March 2022, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport will table its interim report into childhood rheumatic diseases.
Childhood rheumatic diseases are inflammatory, autoimmune conditions affecting the joints, eyes and sometimes skin, muscles and internal organs. Children diagnosed with these diseases disproportionately suffer negative health, social, educational and economic health impacts well into adulthood, and are sometimes permanently disabled.
The Chair of the Committee, Mr Trent Zimmerman, and Deputy Chair Dr Mike Freelander, believed that due to the timing of the upcoming 2022 Federal election, the Committee needed to produce an interim report to outline preliminary findings and recommendations from its inquiry into childhood rheumatic disease, that was initiated in December 2021.
It is hoped this report will lead to changes that will improve the lives of many Australian children and their families living with childhood rheumatic diseases as the case for action is pressing and should not wait until the next Parliament has determined whether to complete a final and full report.
The Committee heard that at present too few Australian children with childhood rheumatic disease are receiving the care they need as a result to two main issues – first, the lack of awareness of the disease including early diagnosis, and second, the shortage of paediatric rheumatologists throughout Australia. This results in children not receiving appropriate treatment in a timely manner that may prolong living with a painful and debilitating disease.’
The Committee made a total of 15 recommendations in its report including:
- Funding to provide training programs to triple the number of paediatric rheumatologists in Australia by 2030
- Establishment of multi-disciplinary centres in major capital cities to support the expansion of allied health for paediatric rheumatology, including specialist nursing services.
- Establishment of a ‘hub and spoke’ model with outreach clinics for rural, regional and remote areas to ensure equitable care can be provided to all children with rheumatic disease in Australia.
A comprehensive list of recommendations can be found in the report. The report will be available at the Committee’s website shortly after tabling in the House of Representatives.
