新南威尔士州约117,000名智力残障人士的家庭正面临支离破碎的医疗支持系统[1]。该州仅有7个专业智力残障卫生团队(SIDHT)分布在15个卫生区，这种严重不足的配置凸显了现存的医疗服务缺口[1]。与普通人群相比，智力残障人群的死亡率高出两倍以上，平均寿命短27年；他们的住院率和急诊就诊率也是普通人群的两倍[1]。
这些专业团队通过医学干预和综合支持，为患者及其照护者的生活质量带来显著改善[1]。新南威尔士州卫生部长Ryan Park表示，自2020年以来，SIDHT已评估超过3700人[1]。2025年该州卫生部的评估显示，这些团队改善了短期和中期患者的健康结果[1]。然而，在国民残障保险计划(NDIS)引入后，患者需要自行导航系统，缺乏政府一站式支持[1]。政府目前每年投入超600万澳元运营新南威尔士州智力残障卫生服务[1]。
倡导组织Council for Intellectual Disability呼吁政府在每个卫生区扩展至15个团队，以应对智力残障人群健康结果的严重不平等问题[1]。
Approximately 117,000 intellectually disabled people in New South Wales face a fragmented healthcare support system, with only seven Specialist Intellectual Disability Health Teams (SIDHT) distributed across 15 health districts in the state.[1] This disparity has contributed to stark health inequalities: people with intellectual disabilities experience mortality rates more than double that of the general population and have life expectancies shortened by 27 years.[1] Additionally, hospitalization and emergency department visit rates among this population are twice those of the broader community.[1]
The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has shifted responsibility onto patients to navigate the system independently, leaving families without the government's coordinated support that previously existed.[1] However, a 2025 NSW Health assessment found that SIDHT interventions have significantly improved both short-term and medium-term patient outcomes.[1] Since 2020, these teams have evaluated more than 3,700 individuals, according to NSW Health Minister Ryan Park.[1] The government currently invests over six million Australian dollars annually to operate intellectual disability health services in NSW.[1]
Advocates are calling for substantial expansion of these teams. The Council for Intellectual Disability has urged the government to establish 15 SIDHT teams—one in each health district—to ensure equitable access to specialized care across the state.[1] These teams provide critical medical interventions and comprehensive support that have demonstrated capacity to meaningfully enhance the quality of life for both patients with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers.[1]