Dear Practitioner,
Firstly, we extend our gratitude to continence practitioners for assisting our consumers with their continence needs. We have been fortunate in recent times to fund all new and existing consumers with no wait times within our annual capped budget.
Unfortunately, due to increased demand and the high volume of applications we are currently receiving we are now re-introducing a waitlist.
Dear Practitioners
We wanted to provide you with an update on a backlog of home modifications funding/applications that came about during Covid. We have been continuously working through the back log and are pleased to advise that we have been able to progress many of these but are still needing to finalise some applications between Mar 2022 - Mar 2023.
How You Can Help
If you have submitted a home modifications application prior to March 2023, and an order has not been placed, please contact the team so that we can ascertain any outstanding paperwork and progress the application.
Dear Practitioners
The SWEP Lymphoedema program administration team have noticed an increase in incomplete applications being submitted and this causes unnecessary delays for our consumers and extra administration work for staff, suppliers and practitioners.
The most common reasons for an application being deemed incomplete are listed below. Please review this list as it is important in helping us to reduce delays in processing your requests.
Dear Practitioners,
We are writing to apologise to SWEP registered Practitioners who may have received large volumes of portal generated duplicate emails on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023.
Dear Practitioners
We are writing to provide an update on the SWEP Non-customised Assistive Technology Tender.
As mentioned in our previous communique dated December 2022, SWEP undertook a formal procurement process for non-customised assistive technology equipment last year. In December contracts were awarded to eight suppliers and we are excited to announce that all contracts have just now been endorsed.
All tender contracted items have been loaded into the SWEP database and added to the online SWEP Contracted Items Picklist Catalogue. We are currently working on a new improved online catalogue, which we hope to roll out in the coming months, that will include pictures and more comprehensive details of each tendered item.
Dear Practitioner,
We have received enquiries regarding whether building supplier Pacman is continuing to do work for SWEP consumers. We have reached out to Pacman who have advised that they will no longer be doing home modifications for our consumers.
Dear AT Practitioners
We are writing to you to let you know that our current Supplier contracts for non-customised assistive technology, are due to expire on 31 December 2022.
This year we undertook a formal procurement process, including a desktop and hands-on evaluation of over 500 pieces of assistive technology including manual wheelchairs, walking aids, scooters, three function beds, mattresses, pressure cushions, bathroom aids, hoists, specialised seating, rise recline chairs etc. This involved engagement of three experts from our Clinical Advisory Panel to undertake the actual evaluation of products put forward by Suppliers.
Dear Practitioner
We have recently identified an error on our orthotics quote template. Whilst it is noted on the template that warranty details are required, there has been no allocated area for this information to be entered. As a result, the quote template has now been updated on the website here
Dear Practitioner
Further to our communique dated 14 September, 2022 we are writing to apologise for errors made in our communication regarding the Convatec range of products, and would like to correct these in the points below:
The selected range of products that has been discontinued by Convatec is attached here
As previously advised, we have comparative products available for discontinued items through Independence Australia.
Dear Practitioners,
Please see flyer from Independence Australia with closure dates for the upcoming holiday period. To ensure pre-Christmas delivery of products for your consumer please make sure your orders are in before December 1st 2022.
SWEP has completed a review of how we manage home modifications applications and has recognised the current process using an approval in principle (AIP) model requires changing. We are therefore streamlining processes and documentation, to allow us to appropriately assess the request on receipt of application.
We have worked with our Clinical Advisors and staff to review feedback received from practitioners and consumers which has resulted in the removal of the AIP model. We acknowledge that the AIP process has added unnecessary layers of complexity for practitioners and SWEP in submitting and managing home modifications applications.
Please find below a snapshot of the SWEP 2021-2022 Consumer satisfaction survey results.
Dear Practitioners,
We are very excited to let you know that we have received additional non-recurrent funding for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.
Based on current demand trends, this means that we are now in a position to order applications for eligible consumers when all documentation is received at SWEP.
Over the coming months we will continuously monitor any change in demand trends for support through our programs and will let you know if there is any need to change this practice.
Dear Practitioner,
SWEP have been advised by Independence Australia of a product recall for Hollister urinary drainage bags due to a leakage issue. There are certain manufacturing lots that are affected. Information on the recall can be found via the Hollister recall notice here.
Dear Practitioners,
SWEP have been working closely with our Laryngectomy Consumables and Voice Aids suppliers to ensure we streamline the quote process for all stakeholders. Laryngectomy suppliers have agreed to set pricing annually for our consumers.
We are pleased to advise that practitioners will no longer need to source quotes from the suppliers and can now use the price lists and quote spreadsheets attached to our website https://swep.bhs.org.au/laryngectomy-consumables-program.php
