❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice seeks detailed information about adult mental health inpatient beds in public and private hospitals, including bed numbers, occupancy, security measures, length of stay, and fees. The response provides some data for public hospitals but lacks information for private hospitals due to data collection limitations.
AnsweredQoN 4831Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer to question on notice No. 4508 asked on 16 August 2011 about mental health inpatient beds in public and private hospitals, and I ask -
(1) Of the adult mental health inpatient beds that are authorised to hold involuntary patients under the
Mental Health Act 1911
(‘authorised beds’), how many are in locked wards?
(2) Of the available authorised beds, how many, on average on any given day, are occupied by -
(a) voluntary patients; and
(b) involuntary patients?
(3) When voluntary patients occupy authorised beds, are the wards locked, or are the patients detained or in some other way restrained from leaving the ward without permission?
(4) When voluntary patients occupy adult mental health inpatient beds designated for voluntary patients only (‘designated beds’), are the wards locked, or are the patients detained or in some other way restrained from leaving the ward without permission?
(5) What is the average length of stay for adult mental health inpatients that are -
(a) voluntary; and
(b) involuntary?
(6) What fees are charged to -
(a) voluntary patients occupying designated beds in public hospitals;
(b) voluntary patients occupying authorised beds in public hospitals;
(c) involuntary patients occupying authorised beds in public hospitals;
(d) voluntary patients occupying designated beds in private hospitals;
(e) voluntary patients occupying authorised beds in private hospitals; and
(f) involuntary patients occupying authorised beds in private hospitals?
(1) Of the adult mental health inpatient beds that are authorised to hold involuntary patients under the
Mental Health Act 1911
(‘authorised beds’), how many are in locked wards?
(2) Of the available authorised beds, how many, on average on any given day, are occupied by -
(a) voluntary patients; and
(b) involuntary patients?
(3) When voluntary patients occupy authorised beds, are the wards locked, or are the patients detained or in some other way restrained from leaving the ward without permission?
(4) When voluntary patients occupy adult mental health inpatient beds designated for voluntary patients only (‘designated beds’), are the wards locked, or are the patients detained or in some other way restrained from leaving the ward without permission?
(5) What is the average length of stay for adult mental health inpatients that are -
(a) voluntary; and
(b) involuntary?
(6) What fees are charged to -
(a) voluntary patients occupying designated beds in public hospitals;
(b) voluntary patients occupying authorised beds in public hospitals;
(c) involuntary patients occupying authorised beds in public hospitals;
(d) voluntary patients occupying designated beds in private hospitals;
(e) voluntary patients occupying authorised beds in private hospitals; and
(f) involuntary patients occupying authorised beds in private hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 March 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
139 days
In reference to further questions (1) to (6) to the questions on notice No. 4508, the Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit does not collect specific/detailed data or information relating to mental health inpatient beds in private hospitals throughout Western Australia. Therefore, we are unable to answer this question for private hospitals in WA.
For public patients please see below:
(1)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
NMAHS Area Mental Health
Graylands Hospital: 176 Authorised Beds (excluding State Forensic Beds). Of these, 100 are locked beds across 8 wards.
Swan Valley Centre: 25 Authorised Beds. Of these, 6 are regular locked beds, although the Swan Valley Centre has capacity to "swing" two extra beds from the open side to become part of the locked ward- this takes the total capacity for locked beds to 8.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
KEMH: The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) has eight inpatient beds that are authorised under the
Mental Health Act 1996
, which are occupied by either involuntary or voluntary patients.
Joondalup Health Campus
JHC: 10 inpatient beds.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
There are authorised beds in secure wards at:
Armadale 5 beds
Bentley 12 beds
Fremantle 10 beds
Rockingham 4 beds
There are 31 beds in secure authorised wards.
WA Country Health Service
All WACHS specialist mental health inpatient facilities are authorised under the
Mental Health Act 1996
. The capacity for locked beds is:
Albany:
Two beds within the 9 bed authorised mental health inpatient unit can be locked to create a secure area.
Kalgoorlie
:
The seven bed Mental Health Inpatient Unit is locked practice but is not defined as a locked unit.
Bunbury:
Six secure beds within the 27 bed authorised mental health inpatient are located in a separate locked ward.
(2)
(a) 142
(b) 291
(3)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
NMAHS
Area Mental Health
Involuntary patients under the
Mental Health Act 1996
may be cared for either on secure or open wards, depending on their clinical and risk assessment. Therefore Authorised Beds may be either secure or open. In the open wards patients can leave the wards freely, although staff have a clear duty of care to track patient whereabouts at key periods during the day, and the frequency of observations will depend on patient needs.
It is uncommon for a voluntary patient to be cared for on a secure ward - this may be at the request of the patient themselves, or if there is temporary unavailability of an open bed. Voluntary patients are not prevented from leaving secure wards- staff let them out promptly on request.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
KEMH: Voluntary patients can come and go freely, and this is managed when involuntary patients are in the unit by a controlled exit and entrance that is operated by staff swipe card.
The controlled entrance/exit is also an added security feature to control who enters and leaves the unit to ensure care and protection for the babies.
Joondalup Health Campus
JHC Wards are not locked during the day, however they are locked between 10pm and 6am.
If a voluntary patient threatens to leave the unit to self harm the staff lock the doors to the unit to prevent the patient leaving, however the door is temporarily opened to allow other patients to exit when required.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
Patients are treated in the least restrictive environment. On occasion (if the clinical risk is high), open authorised wards will be locked but there are protocols for access in and out of the wards. Open authorised wards are locked at night for safety of staff and patients.
WA Country Health Service
Albany:
The ward is sometimes locked if there is a patient admitted who is wandering. In this instance staff control egress out of the ward so that patients that have permission to leave are able to do so without putting other patients at risk.
Kalgoorlie:
The ward remains locked as involuntary and voluntary patients are mixed. Staff control egress out of the ward so that patients that have permission to leave are able to do so without putting other patients at risk.
Bunbury:
The ward is sometimes locked if there is a patient admitted who is wandering. In this instance staff control egress out of the ward so that patients that have permission to leave are able to do so without putting other patients at risk.
(4)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
NMAHS Area Mental Health
There have been rare occasions where Authorised open wards have temporarily been locked because of the high acuity of the patient group on that unit - this is to maintain safety for high risk patients who may be transiting to locked wards. All voluntary patients on these wards are allowed access to move in and out of the ward, and those units have been unlocked as soon as the risk has settled.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
KEMH: As indicated in question 1, involuntary and voluntary patients are housed in the same unit.
If a patient is involuntary it is explained to them and their next of kin that they will not be allowed to leave the Unit unless permitted to by the psychiatrist, following a risk assessment that does highlight any areas of concern.
The exit from the building is controlled if there are any concerns that a patient who is under the Mental Health Act may try to leave
The exit is not controlled if the Unit is only occupied by voluntary patients, and if controlled voluntary patients come and go freely.
Joondalup Health Campus
JHC does not have beds designated voluntary only, they are all authorised.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
The only non authorised facility in SMAHS is Royal Perth Hospital (Ward 2K). Voluntary patients can leave the ward at any time. They are requested to advise staff of their destination and likely return time.
WA Country Health Service
Albany:
Albany does not have beds designated for voluntary patients only.
Kalgoorlie:
Kalgoorlie does not have beds designated for voluntary patients only.
Bunbury:
Bunbury does not have beds designated for voluntary patients only.
(5)
(a) 7 days median length of stay (LOS); and
(b) 13 days median LOS.
(6)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
NMAHS Area Mental Health
(a) At the time of admission an eligible person (not being a compensable inpatient or a war service veteran) must elect to be classified as a public inpatient or a private inpatient. For public patients there is no charge but for private patients there is a standard schedule of fees relating to the type of room and length of stay.
Patients who have been in hospital for more than 35 continuous days and no longer require acute care may be deemed to be a Nursing Home Type Patient (NHTP) and charged as per the standard schedule of fees. They are not deemed NHTP until the clinician (Psychiatrist) authorises a change in care type.
All Compensable, Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance, and Ineligible patients are charged in accordance with the standard schedule of fees.
(b) The rules that applied in (a) are the same for voluntary patients occupying authorised beds in public hospitals.
(c) As from 1 Apr 2007 it was confirmed by the Minister for Health that all involuntary patients detained in an authorised mental health facility are now excluded under the Health Insurance Act (1973) from paying board and lodgings.
(d) The rate charged is a standard charge agreed with the patient and/or private health insurance company. Fees are protected by contractual confidentiality. There is no differentiation between designated and authorised.
(e) The rate charged is a standard charge agreed with the patient and/or private health insurance company. Fees are protected by contractual confidentiality. There is no differentiation between designated and authorised.
(f) There are 54 designated authorised private beds and their charge is protected by contractual confidentiality.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
(a - f) None.
Joondalup Health Campus
(a - c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable. All authorised.
(e) No fees are charged to public patients and private patients are charged the normal fees pertaining to a private admission.
(f) No fees are charged to public patients and private patients are charged the normal fees pertaining to a private admission.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
(a - c) Mental health patients are not charged in public hospitals if they are Medicare eligible patient, if patients are not eligible for Medicare cover, charges are raised for them. A mental health patient who has been in a pubic hospital for more than 35 days and no longer requires acute care, and the clinician authorises a change in care type, is classified as a Nursing Home Type patient and they can be charged the nursing home patient accommodation fee.
(d - f) Not applicable.
WA Country Health Service
There are no fees charged for mental health care within WACHS public mental health inpatient facilities.
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For public patients please see below:
(1)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
NMAHS Area Mental Health
Graylands Hospital: 176 Authorised Beds (excluding State Forensic Beds). Of these, 100 are locked beds across 8 wards.
Swan Valley Centre: 25 Authorised Beds. Of these, 6 are regular locked beds, although the Swan Valley Centre has capacity to "swing" two extra beds from the open side to become part of the locked ward- this takes the total capacity for locked beds to 8.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
KEMH: The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) has eight inpatient beds that are authorised under the
Mental Health Act 1996
, which are occupied by either involuntary or voluntary patients.
Joondalup Health Campus
JHC: 10 inpatient beds.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
There are authorised beds in secure wards at:
Armadale 5 beds
Bentley 12 beds
Fremantle 10 beds
Rockingham 4 beds
There are 31 beds in secure authorised wards.
WA Country Health Service
All WACHS specialist mental health inpatient facilities are authorised under the
Mental Health Act 1996
. The capacity for locked beds is:
Albany:
Two beds within the 9 bed authorised mental health inpatient unit can be locked to create a secure area.
Kalgoorlie
:
The seven bed Mental Health Inpatient Unit is locked practice but is not defined as a locked unit.
Bunbury:
Six secure beds within the 27 bed authorised mental health inpatient are located in a separate locked ward.
(2)
(a) 142
(b) 291
(3)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service
NMAHS
Area Mental Health
Involuntary patients under the
Mental Health Act 1996
may be cared for either on secure or open wards, depending on their clinical and risk assessment. Therefore Authorised Beds may be either secure or open. In the open wards patients can leave the wards freely, although staff have a clear duty of care to track patient whereabouts at key periods during the day, and the frequency of observations will depend on patient needs.
It is uncommon for a voluntary patient to be cared for on a secure ward - this may be at the request of the patient themselves, or if there is temporary unavailability of an open bed. Voluntary patients are not prevented from leaving secure wards- staff let them out promptly on request.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
KEMH: Voluntary patients can come and go freely, and this is managed when involuntary patients are in the unit by a controlled exit and entrance that is operated by staff swipe card.
The controlled entrance/exit is also an added security feature to control who enters and leaves the unit to ensure care and protection for the babies.
Joondalup Health Campus
JHC Wards are not locked during the day, however they are locked between 10pm and 6am.
If a voluntary patient threatens to leave the unit to self harm the staff lock the doors to the unit to prevent the patient leaving, however the door is temporarily opened to allow other patients to exit when required.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
Patients are treated in the least restrictive environment. On occasion (if the clinical risk is high), open authorised wards will be locked but there are protocols for access in and out of the wards. Open authorised wards are locked at night for safety of staff and patients.
WA Country Health Service
Albany:
The ward is sometimes locked if there is a patient admitted who is wandering. In this instance staff control egress out of the ward so that patients that have permission to leave are able to do so without putting other patients at risk.
Kalgoorlie:
The ward remains locked as involuntary and voluntary patients are mixed. Staff control egress out of the ward so that patients that have permission to leave are able to do so without putting other patients at risk.
Bunbury:
The ward is sometimes locked if there is a patient admitted who is wandering. In this instance staff control egress out of the ward so that patients that have permission to leave are able to do so without putting other patients at risk.
(4)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
NMAHS Area Mental Health
There have been rare occasions where Authorised open wards have temporarily been locked because of the high acuity of the patient group on that unit - this is to maintain safety for high risk patients who may be transiting to locked wards. All voluntary patients on these wards are allowed access to move in and out of the ward, and those units have been unlocked as soon as the risk has settled.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
KEMH: As indicated in question 1, involuntary and voluntary patients are housed in the same unit.
If a patient is involuntary it is explained to them and their next of kin that they will not be allowed to leave the Unit unless permitted to by the psychiatrist, following a risk assessment that does highlight any areas of concern.
The exit from the building is controlled if there are any concerns that a patient who is under the Mental Health Act may try to leave
The exit is not controlled if the Unit is only occupied by voluntary patients, and if controlled voluntary patients come and go freely.
Joondalup Health Campus
JHC does not have beds designated voluntary only, they are all authorised.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
The only non authorised facility in SMAHS is Royal Perth Hospital (Ward 2K). Voluntary patients can leave the ward at any time. They are requested to advise staff of their destination and likely return time.
WA Country Health Service
Albany:
Albany does not have beds designated for voluntary patients only.
Kalgoorlie:
Kalgoorlie does not have beds designated for voluntary patients only.
Bunbury:
Bunbury does not have beds designated for voluntary patients only.
(5)
(a) 7 days median length of stay (LOS); and
(b) 13 days median LOS.
(6)
North Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
NMAHS Area Mental Health
(a) At the time of admission an eligible person (not being a compensable inpatient or a war service veteran) must elect to be classified as a public inpatient or a private inpatient. For public patients there is no charge but for private patients there is a standard schedule of fees relating to the type of room and length of stay.
Patients who have been in hospital for more than 35 continuous days and no longer require acute care may be deemed to be a Nursing Home Type Patient (NHTP) and charged as per the standard schedule of fees. They are not deemed NHTP until the clinician (Psychiatrist) authorises a change in care type.
All Compensable, Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance, and Ineligible patients are charged in accordance with the standard schedule of fees.
(b) The rules that applied in (a) are the same for voluntary patients occupying authorised beds in public hospitals.
(c) As from 1 Apr 2007 it was confirmed by the Minister for Health that all involuntary patients detained in an authorised mental health facility are now excluded under the Health Insurance Act (1973) from paying board and lodgings.
(d) The rate charged is a standard charge agreed with the patient and/or private health insurance company. Fees are protected by contractual confidentiality. There is no differentiation between designated and authorised.
(e) The rate charged is a standard charge agreed with the patient and/or private health insurance company. Fees are protected by contractual confidentiality. There is no differentiation between designated and authorised.
(f) There are 54 designated authorised private beds and their charge is protected by contractual confidentiality.
King Edward Memorial Hospital
(a - f) None.
Joondalup Health Campus
(a - c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable. All authorised.
(e) No fees are charged to public patients and private patients are charged the normal fees pertaining to a private admission.
(f) No fees are charged to public patients and private patients are charged the normal fees pertaining to a private admission.
South Metropolitan Area Health Service Mental Health
(a - c) Mental health patients are not charged in public hospitals if they are Medicare eligible patient, if patients are not eligible for Medicare cover, charges are raised for them. A mental health patient who has been in a pubic hospital for more than 35 days and no longer requires acute care, and the clinician authorises a change in care type, is classified as a Nursing Home Type patient and they can be charged the nursing home patient accommodation fee.
(d - f) Not applicable.
WA Country Health Service
There are no fees charged for mental health care within WACHS public mental health inpatient facilities.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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