The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured that consolidating the Child Development Centre (CDC) services in Kiarong at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital is for the benefit of all concerned parties, as it will ensure that the whole service for those with special needs will be more streamlined, with access to more doctors, multidisciplinary specialists and allied health professionals in one centralised location.

The idea behind the move is to get the most out of their human resources and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of manpower.

The move will also allow patients to gain better access to all the necessary CDC services and specialties with the best facilities available in RIPAS Hospital, in particular the new Women and Children's Centre.

These were some of the points highlighted by two health professionals under the Ministry of Health who deal with children, during a recent interview with the media representatives.

The interview follows the voicing out of concern from some members of the public regarding the move, with some worried about how it could affect them and their children.

In an earlier press statement, the ministry shared that as part of its drive to provide added value and excellent services, it is consolidating Kiarong CDC services at RIPAS Hospital for better and clearer high-impact outcomes.

The MoH explained that, by providing a more consolidated and integrated care for children with special needs, they will have the opportunity for a better transition and journey of care.

During the interview, it was shared that, after the move has been carried out, with expected completion in June, services will be delivered under the name, 'Developmental Paediatric Services'.

"We'll have the paediatric department here, which is not just consisting of developmental paediatricians. We will have specialists in new-born care, gastroenterology, emergency, blood specialists in paediatrics. We'll also have the in-patient wards. We have the paediatric surgical specialist as well."

"We will have allied surgical specialists. So, for example, we will have the oral and maxillofacial specialists who will look at if there are problems with facial deformities and things like that?"

With regards to rehabilitation, it was highlighted that all facilities that are available at CDC will be available at the RIPAS Hospital, with a key difference being that there will be more manpower available at the hospital in comparison to the CDC.

It was also underlined that the various kinds of therapy and treatment are all available in close proximity at the hospital, as opposed to the CDC.

In an earlier press statement, the MoH emphasised that the move allows for seamless transition from childhood care to adulthood care for those with special needs.

"If you think of a child with special needs' journey through life, the first phase is when they are very young. We are actually only a part of it. These children are going to grow up to be adults. They will be adults with special needs."

Just next door is the adult rehabilitation, where there is a specialist and a neurologist. And there is a transitional team now, where those aged 12 and above are referred to another team."

It was shared that, prior to deciding on the consolidation, a consultation was done with stakeholders in a dialogue session involving the ministry, non-government organisation (NGOs) including SMARTER, Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam,

Learning Ladders Society and Centre for Children with Special Needs to name a few, as well as parents.

The ministry shared that the dialogue resulted in four consensuses. First was for there to be comprehensive, seamless and integrated care for children with special needs.

Another was to enhance collaborative work with relevant stakeholders.

A third was to engage and involve parents and caregivers at all levels of care and policy decision-making, while a fourth was to improve quality of life through independence, functionality and opportunities in education.

One of the major concerns from the public has been that of access and congestion.

Asked on this, the interviewees said that the Women and Children's Centre has multiple drop-off points, including at the front entrance of the building as well as at the basement parking level. Parking spaces are also available, they said.

"Most of the children have carers, and when they are coming, security is notified," they said, adding that appointments are booked in advance.

"Normally when a therapist is assigned to a patient who is coming for an appointment, that therapist will call the patient to ask for a car licence plate number so that the therapist can be out there at the drop-off point to wait."

In the interview, it was also mentioned that the ministry will continue to monitor the progress and effects of the move. "In the process of streamlining our system, we want to be more evidence-based, to see if what we are doing is making a lot of difference."

"We will continually assess ourselves, and that works better if the environment is larger and we are critical of each other."

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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