❓ Question regarding the number of 16 and 17-year-olds admitted to the psychiatric ward at South West Health Campus between 2010 and 2012. The Minister provides the requested data and explains the rationale for admitting minors to adult wards.
AnsweredQoN 445Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTH WEST HEALTH CAMPUS —
PSYCHIATRIC WARD
445. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Adele Farina, who is away on urgent parliamentary business. I refer to the psychiatric ward at South West Health Campus.
How many 16 and 17-year-olds have been admitted to the
psychiatric ward in —
(a) 2010;
(b) 2011; and
(c) 2012, to date?
PSYCHIATRIC WARD
445. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Adele Farina, who is away on urgent parliamentary business. I refer to the psychiatric ward at South West Health Campus.
How many 16 and 17-year-olds have been admitted to the
psychiatric ward in —
(a) 2010;
(b) 2011; and
(c) 2012, to date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for asking this question on behalf of Hon
Adele Farina. I would like to give some additional information to the response
I have, which is —
(a) one, a 17-year-old;
(b) one, a 17-year-old; and
(c) one, a 17-year-old.
Over each of those three years one person who was under the
age of 18 was admitted to an adult ward. As I have indicated on previous
occasions, consideration has to be given at the time to whether it is more
appropriate to provide that inpatient care in a local setting where there is no
specialist child and adolescent mental health inpatient unit with the extra
support and services provided around a person of that nature in an adult
setting or whether it is better to move that person away to a specialist child
and adolescent inpatient unit in the metropolitan area. Obviously in these
three cases over three years it was determined that it was more appropriate for
these 17-year-olds to be admitted to the adult ward. No 16-year-olds were
admitted during these periods. A comprehensive clinical assessment is always
undertaken prior to admitting a young person to an adult mental health unit,
ensuring that they get care closer to home and will remain connected with their
family. All attempts to assess other options for 16 and 17-year-olds are always
explored before an admission to an adult mental health inpatient unit is
undertaken.
Adele Farina. I would like to give some additional information to the response
I have, which is —
(a) one, a 17-year-old;
(b) one, a 17-year-old; and
(c) one, a 17-year-old.
Over each of those three years one person who was under the
age of 18 was admitted to an adult ward. As I have indicated on previous
occasions, consideration has to be given at the time to whether it is more
appropriate to provide that inpatient care in a local setting where there is no
specialist child and adolescent mental health inpatient unit with the extra
support and services provided around a person of that nature in an adult
setting or whether it is better to move that person away to a specialist child
and adolescent inpatient unit in the metropolitan area. Obviously in these
three cases over three years it was determined that it was more appropriate for
these 17-year-olds to be admitted to the adult ward. No 16-year-olds were
admitted during these periods. A comprehensive clinical assessment is always
undertaken prior to admitting a young person to an adult mental health unit,
ensuring that they get care closer to home and will remain connected with their
family. All attempts to assess other options for 16 and 17-year-olds are always
explored before an admission to an adult mental health inpatient unit is
undertaken.
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