❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the Western Australia Country Health Service's (WACHS) draft position paper on mental health and drug/alcohol services, focusing on access to care in rural emergency departments. The response clarifies the paper's status, scope, and alignment with state policies, emphasizing individualized patient assessment and treatment.
AnsweredQoN 4994Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Western Australia Country Health Service draft position paper for guiding service development across the continuum of care to promote a ‘no wrong door’ approach for people experiencing mental health and/or drug and alcohol problems, and ask -
(1) Has the draft position paper been finalised?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), will the Minister table the strategic framework?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Under the draft position paper will the practice of turning away people presenting at a country hospital Emergency Department under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and suffering mental health problems and telling them to make an appointment with the Drug and Alcohol team be stopped?
(6) If yes to (5), how will doctors be able to access a person’s mental health problems while they are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs?
(7) If yes to (5), will these people be admitted to hospital for observation and assessment?
(1) Has the draft position paper been finalised?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), will the Minister table the strategic framework?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Under the draft position paper will the practice of turning away people presenting at a country hospital Emergency Department under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and suffering mental health problems and telling them to make an appointment with the Drug and Alcohol team be stopped?
(6) If yes to (5), how will doctors be able to access a person’s mental health problems while they are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs?
(7) If yes to (5), will these people be admitted to hospital for observation and assessment?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 March 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
117 days
(1) No. The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Position Paper will be finalised during the coming months and is expected to be submitted to the Chief Executive for endorsement in July 2012.
(2) A review and further work was required to the WACHS Position Paper following the release of the Mental Health Commission's strategic policy,
Mental Health 2020: Making it personal and everybody's business
in mid October 2011.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The Position Paper is not a 'strategic framework' but an internal working document to guide services. The Position Paper aligns with relevant National and State Strategic Policies and Plans, such as the
WACHS Alcohol and other Drugs Plan
and the WA Mental Health Commission's strategic policy,
Mental Health 2020: Making it personal and everybody's business
.
(5) All patients presenting to WACHS hospitals and nursing posts that provide emergency care services are, and will continue to be, assessed, triaged and provided with the most appropriate treatment that meets their individual needs.
(6) All Medical Practitioners working in Western Australia are trained and skilled in assessment and diagnosis, including undertaking a Mental State Examination when a person is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
(7) Admission to hospital for observation and further assessment is, and will continue to be, determined by an individual's clinical needs.
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(2) A review and further work was required to the WACHS Position Paper following the release of the Mental Health Commission's strategic policy,
Mental Health 2020: Making it personal and everybody's business
in mid October 2011.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The Position Paper is not a 'strategic framework' but an internal working document to guide services. The Position Paper aligns with relevant National and State Strategic Policies and Plans, such as the
WACHS Alcohol and other Drugs Plan
and the WA Mental Health Commission's strategic policy,
Mental Health 2020: Making it personal and everybody's business
.
(5) All patients presenting to WACHS hospitals and nursing posts that provide emergency care services are, and will continue to be, assessed, triaged and provided with the most appropriate treatment that meets their individual needs.
(6) All Medical Practitioners working in Western Australia are trained and skilled in assessment and diagnosis, including undertaking a Mental State Examination when a person is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
(7) Admission to hospital for observation and further assessment is, and will continue to be, determined by an individual's clinical needs.
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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