FAQs (Q & A)
- What is the Western Australian Limb Service for Amputees (WALSA)?
- What does WALSA provide?
- Eligibility
- Compensation cases
- Eligible veterans
- Components
- What are ‘interim limbs’?
- Replacement limbs
- Second or spare limbs
What is the Western Australian Limb Service for Amputees (WALSA)?
The Western Australian Limb Service for Amputees (WALSA) came into effect in March 1997. It replaces the Artificial Limb Scheme (ALS) in Western Australia, formerly administered by the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and provides a similar service for the State’s community amputees. The WALSA service is also accessed by Department of Veterans’ Affairs amputees who wish to have their artificial limbs prescribed, fitted and serviced.
What does WALSA provide?
WALSA assists in making high quality artificial limbs available to every member of the WA community who needs them. WALSA provides prescribing clinics for the prescribing and fitting of artificial limbs. WALSA also facilitates the process of acquittal, repair and maintenance of prostheses and the provision of consumable supplies within existing resources.
Eligibility
WALSA provides artificial limbs to all community clients who are permanent residents of WA. Clients must hold a Medicare card to be eligible for WALSA services.
Compensation cases
The WALSA does not provide prosthetic services to those individuals who receive compensation for the costs of prosthetic services from a third party. The amputee is liable for the costs of limbs and associated services should their Court or Settlement actions be successful. Until the action is completed, the client may have his/her prosthetic costs met by the Service. The Health Department will seek reimbursement of the costs of prostheses, repairs and supplies provided to amputees.
Eligible veterans
By arrangements made with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), all entitled veterans receive primary or replacement limbs and repairs via WALSA. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for paying for entitled veterans’ services and monitors quality of delivery of service in conjunction with WALSA.
Components
Approval under the Therapeutic Goods Act (TGA) is the required standard of quality for all items on the Schedule of Approved Componentry. Any and all additions to this Schedule will be decided by an expert committee of prescribers and prosthetists called the WALSA Componentry Advisory Committee.
The WALSA Schedule of Approved Componentry is subject to restrictions which apply to all items within specific generic types. Componentry is provided according to Mobility level, as per the following Schedule:
Mobility Classes
Mobility Class 1 - Home Walker
Treatment Objective: to restore the client’s ability to stand and enable him to walk around at home.
The client has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis to move around the home or walk on a flat surface at low speed. The walking time and the walking distance are short due to his physical condition.
Mobility Class 2 – Restricted Outside Walker
Treatment Objective: to restore the client’s ability to stand and enable him to walk around the home and the immediate vicinity.
The client has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis to walk at low speed with a prosthesis and to overcome minor obstacles such as kerbs, single steps or uneven ground. The walking time and the walking distance are both limited due to his physical condition.
Mobility Class 3 – Unrestricted Outside Walker
Treatment Objective: to restore the client’s ability to stand and enable him to walk unhindered at home and, with minor restrictions only, outside.
The client has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis to walk at moderate to high and variable speeds and to overcome most obstacles. He can move around on open ground and carry out occupational, therapeutic and other activities that do not exert undue mechanical stresses on the prosthesis. The walking time and the walking distance are both marginally limited compared with limbed individuals.
Mobility Class 4 – Unrestricted Outside Walker with very high demands
Treatment Objective: to restore the client’s ability to stand and enable him to walk around unhindered at home and with unlimited walking and mobility outside.
The client has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis to walk as per the Unrestricted Outside Walker. In addition, high impact stresses and strains may occur because of high functional demands. The walking time and the walking distance are unlimited.
Lightweight components may be prescribed for clients with limited functional ability, or when weight is genuinely considered to be an important factor in the patient’s ability to utilise a prosthesis and other available componentry is unacceptable.
The WALSA client cannot be directed to a particular manufacturer. However, once production of a prosthesis has commenced, the client will normally stay with that prosthetist. Should the client decide to change, any costs involved will normally be borne by the client.
Available Componentry
Interim prostheses:
Standard Sach foot, standard knee or safety knee, except for agreed non-standard cases.
Definitive Prostheses:
- Mobility Class 1 - Home Walker
Standard Sach foot, standard knee or safety knee. - Mobility Class 2 – Restricted Outside Walker
Componentry rated at this level with a maximum of $600 per foot. Standard knee to be provided. - Mobility Class 3 – Unrestricted Outside Walker
Componentry rated at this level with a maximum of $600 per foot. Knee unit to a value of $2700 may be provided. - Mobility Class 4 – Unrestricted Outside Walker with very high demands
Componentry rated at this level with a maximum of $1,000 per foot. Knee unit to a value of $2700 may be provided.
Myo-electric Arm Prostheses:
Are provided to children following positive assessment or the child’s ability to use the device by PHM clinical staff and WALSA contract prosthetist(s). These prostheses may be supplied to adults at the discretion of the WALSA Manager when the application is supported by prosthetic and rehabilitation advice.They may be supplied to adults subject to individual application.
Replacement limbs:
Replacement of a Definitive limb within 36 months requires a Prosthetic Review Form from the treating prosthetist to the WALSA Manager.
Second or spare limbs:
These are not available as a matter of routine. The Manager may approve the issue of a second limb to a client, upon application from the prescriber or prosthetist, where the following conditions apply:
The client meets the following:
- resides remote from the manufacturer and is engaged in an occupation that could place undue stress on the prosthesis and would suffer economic loss by not being able to work while the prescribed limb is being repaired, or
- lives alone in an isolated location and could be stranded if a second limb was not available.
What are ‘interim limbs’?
These are limbs applied in the early post-operative period. They assist the healing and management of the residual limb. Prescription of interim limbs will depend on the individual amputee’s condition and readiness for a fibreglass socket.
Replacement limbs
The minimum life of limbs and feet, other than SACH feet, supplied to adults under WALSA is expected to be 36 months. The time commences at acquittal of the limb by the client. Approval for the supply of limbs under the 36 month limit will not be given without written submission by the prescriber to the WALSA manager.
Second or spare limbs
These are not available as a matter of routine, the manager may approve the issue of a second limb to a client, upon application from the prescriber, where the following conditions apply:
- The client is engaged in an occupation which could place undue stress on the prosthesis.
- The client would suffer economic loss by not being able to work while the prescribed limb is being repaired.
- The client lives alone in an isolated location and could be stranded if a second limb was not available.