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News

SWEP Communique - Home Modifications

16 November 2023

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.

SWEP Communique - 2023 Consumer satisfaction with SWEP

10 August 2023
Dear Practitioners 

SWEP recently completed our annual Consumer Survey for 2024, which identifies how satisfied our consumers are with the equipment/products they have received and their overall experience with SWEP and our services. 

SWEP Communique - New online catalogue for Contracted Assistive Technology Items

14 July 2023
Dear Practitioners

We're excited to launch our new online product catalogue for the recently contracted Non-customised Assistive Technology.
The new catalogue is located on our website here 

SWEP Communique - Compression Garment applications

21 June 2023

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. 

SWEP Communique - Compression Garment applications

21 June 2023
Dear Supplier,

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 our staff, suppliers and practitioners. 

SWEP has developed a standardised quote template to ensure your quotes have all the information we need as a minimum. This helps us to streamline processes to ensure that consumers receive their garments, as soon as possible. You may have received phone calls from our team or practitioners seeking clarification on quotes which contributes to delay in orders being placed.

SWEP Communique - Current Phone Issues

8 June 2023
Yesterday, 7th June the SWEP team migrated to a new IT domain, as a part of Grampians Health. The majority of this went well but we are having some phone issues today. Some of our queues are in meeting mode and some are open but with fewer staff logged in than normal, therefore our wait times might be longer than usual.  We have our IT department looking into this for us. 

SWEP Communique - SWEP IT Systems Update 7th June 2023

30 May 2023
On Wednesday, 7th June 2023 the SWEP team will be transitioning to a new IT domain, as a part of Grampians Health. This will commence from 08.30 a.m. in the morning, and we are expecting that there may be several hours of disruption where we will be unable to access our emails or answer your calls.

SWEP Communique - SWEP Practitioner Portal Update

28 April 2023

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.

SWEP Communique - Update Non Customised Equipment Tender outcome

28 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.

SWEP Communique - Home modification applications with quotes from building supplier Pacman

18 April 2023

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.  

SWEP Communique - SWEP Non-customised Assistive Technology Tender Outcome

22 December 2022

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.

SWEP e-News for Consumers

21 December 2022
If you would like to view this news letter please click here

SWEP Communique - Changes to Orthotics Quote Template

14 December 2022

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

SWEP Communique - Convatec Product Range Up-date

21 November 2022

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:

 

  1. Convatec is NOT closing its business, rather, it is discontinuing a selected range of products. 
  2. Convatec is NOT discontinuing its GentleCath Glide intermittent catheter range, this range is still available for ongoing purchase and supply.

 

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.

SWEP Communique - Independence Australia Christmas Closure

7 November 2022

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.


Click here for flyer.

SWEP Communique - Changes to Home Modification Application Process

10 October 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.

SWEP 2021-2022 Consumer Satisfaction Survey

2 September 2022

Please find below a snapshot of the SWEP 2021-2022 Consumer satisfaction survey results.



SWEP Communique - Additional Non-Recurrent Funding 2022-23 and 2023-24

1 September 2022

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.

SWEP Communique - Product recall Hollister Urinary Drainage Bags

29 August 2022

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.

SWEP Communique - Laryngectomy Consumables - pricing & quotes process update

21 July 2022

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 

SWEP Communique - Additional VA&EP Funding

21 July 2022

Dear Practitioner,

We are pleased to advise you about additional funding we have received for the next two financial years. This funding is the result of a Whole of Government budget bid to continue to provide a range of supports for Victorians who do not meet the NDIS eligibility criteria, or where the NDIS cannot support a participant's outcomes with supports under the NDIS.

The additional funding will be targeted specifically for the consumer cohort seeking support through VA&EP who are aged under 65 years and ineligible for support through the NDIS.

SWEP Communique - Updated Information about the Proposed LCGP Operational Changes

23 June 2022

The current LCGP  operational policies will remain in place until further consultation work has been carried out. Given some of the feedback on the proposed change, and in line with the Department of Health, we will pause the implementation and further investigate any unintended consequences to ensure patient access to these garments is not adversely impacted.

Kind Regards
SWEP Leadership Team

SWEP Communique - Continence Program Catheter Packs

21 June 2022

Dear Practitioners

We are very pleased to advise that the Department of Health (DH) have approved changes to the available continence product list for consumers using catheters, to include inter-related Catheter Change Packs (Independence Australia Product code/SWEP Picklist code:  10000442).

Changes to the SWEP Operational Policies and inclusion of the Catheter Packs will be implemented from July 1, 2022 and these packs will be available to select for your consumer via the SWEP database.  

Consumer Survey 2022

20 June 2022

Annually we ask consumers, after they have received and used their Assistive Technology, to tell us how satisfied they are overall with their SWEP experience.

We have again exceeded our target of at least 90% satisfaction rate as set by the Department of Health.  Click here to see the full results.

SWEP Communique - LCGP Operational Changes July 1, 2022

7 June 2022

In the 2020-21FY, the Department of Health (DH) provided additional funding for a term of four years to the Lymphoedema Compression Garment Program (LCGP). The objective of the additional funding was to increase access to an approved range of subsidised garments and the number of consumers supported.

Review of demand trends since the injection of additional funds has identified that the program has had a far greater reach for this consumer cohort and enabled introduction of an increased range of garments.

 

Through feedback channels, processes implemented have appeared to unfairly disadvantage consumers in relation to the funding they receive, based on the number of garments they need per limb or number of limbs affected. This has created confusion for consumers and placed extra administrative burden for Practitioners, Suppliers and SWEP staff and does not align with the overarching subsidy limits by equipment category across other Victorian Aids & Equipment programs.


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