End deadly disability discrimination - campaign win

Our campaign to end deadly disability discrimination saw $4.7 million funding for specialist intellectual disability health services announced in the state Budget in June 2018.

The $4.7 million is not enough but it is a great start and will enable the expansion of specialist intellectual disability health services in NSW particularly in rural and regional areas.

Key elements in the announcement:

• Three more specialist intellectual disability health teams will be established to bring the total number to six.
• In districts without a health team nine new specialist intellectual disability nurse or allied health positions will be funded across NSW.

These new services will mean:

• Increased availability of specialist health assessment for people with intellectual disability and complex needs; expert advice and support to NSW Health staff, GPs and staff in hospital emergency departments.
• Expansion of specialist intellectual disability health services in rural and regional areas.

The story on the ABC 7.30 Report of Michelle Mcllquham first brought this issue to the public’s attention.

Michelle had an intellectual disability and died from meningitis after being discharged from hospital twelve hours earlier for an alleged temper tantrum.

Michelle’s story is just one of many that have been brought to our attention.

We will continue to campaign for specialist health services in NSW to be fully funded and we will be calling for the new $4.7m to increase to $17 million per annum by 2022.

There is still so much to do

Our state campaign has gone national!

Join our Our health counts – end deadly discrimination campaign to help secure better health services for people with intellectual disability across Australia.