The South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) is seeking to appoint suitable Contractor/s for the provision of community-based support services for the Ventilator Dependent Quadriplegic (VDQ) - Community Care Program (VDQ-CCP).

The VDQ-CCP provides state-wide assistance to non-compensable  VDQ spinal cord injured patients requiring mechanical ventilation and clinical care to be re-established and supported in their community. This enables patients to be cared for in a community setting and prevents extended hospitalisations or premature/ inappropriate admission to institutionalised care.

Patients over the age of 65 years who do not qualify for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are eligible to access the VDQ-CCP. 

The VDQ-CCP aims to provide a flexible, contemporary community-based model of care for patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation subsequent to the transition from inpatient care to the community setting, and the required support for the patient’s long term residency within their community . The “community” means the patient’s normal place of residence that has been assessed by the patient’s Spinal Rehabilitation Consultant as being suitable for the provision of the VDQ-CCP. 

The community-based support services for the VDQ-CCP will be provided by the Contractor/s and may include support from the patient’s primary carer i.e., the patient’s family or other  acceptable carer/s. The patient will continue to be under the outpatient care of the State Rehabilitation Service of WA (SRS) at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).