❓ Libby Mettam questions the Minister for Health regarding the public health response to eating disorders, citing concerns about young patients being turned away from EDs. The Minister defends the government's record and outlines investments in mental health services.
AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Mental health services—Eating disorders
159. Ms Libby Mettam to the Minister for Health:
I refer to comments
today by one of WA's leading doctors, who has criticised the public health
response to eating disorders—he described it as a disgrace—together
with claims that severely ill young patients as young as seven years of age have
been turned away from emergency departments because they are not sick enough.
(1) Is it acceptable that young people who need
medical help are being turned away from EDs under the minister's watch?
(2) What is her government doing to assist young
patients with eating disorders, given her proposed residential eating disorder
facility will cater only for those over 16 years of age?
159. Ms Libby Mettam to the Minister for Health:
I refer to comments
today by one of WA's leading doctors, who has criticised the public health
response to eating disorders—he described it as a disgrace—together
with claims that severely ill young patients as young as seven years of age have
been turned away from emergency departments because they are not sick enough.
(1) Is it acceptable that young people who need
medical help are being turned away from EDs under the minister's watch?
(2) What is her government doing to assist young
patients with eating disorders, given her proposed residential eating disorder
facility will cater only for those over 16 years of age?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question. It is an opportunity to talk about the good work that we are doing in
respect of eating disorders and some of the recent announcements and
commitments that we have made. Our government has spent record amounts in
mental health and, in doing that, we have been reshaping how mental health
services are delivered, including in relation to eating disorders. We have a
network of services for young Western Australians with eating disorders. Over
the last three years, we have increased the care that is available in the
community through facilities like Kara Maar in Cockburn, which has been purpose
built and is run with multifunctional teams. It includes things like a kitchen
and a dining room so that people can have an opportunity to recover. We have
similar hubs operating in the north and east metropolitan areas. We have
significantly increased our commitment to care in the community so that we can
be involved in early intervention and preventive services.
Today, member, we have also
announced that, as part of this year's state budget, we have allocated $5 million
towards planning of the state's first residential eating disorder service. This
service will provide care and support in this instance for Western Australians
over the age of 16 who do not need intensive hospital treatment for their
eating disorder but do need longer term—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Minister! Deputy Leader of the
Liberal Party, you asked the question. Let the minister finish her response and
then you will get the chance to ask a supplementary. Carry on, minister.
Ms Meredith Hammat: Thank you, Speaker.
As I was saying,
this service will provide care and support for Western Australians over the age
of 16 who do not need intensive hospital treatment for their eating disorder
but do need longer term therapeutic support in a home-like environment. We hope
that this service will prevent eating disorders from progressing to the point
at which hospitalisation is required, but, for others, we hope this service
will provide care after being discharged from hospital to support recovery
before returning home.
We have made
significant commitments in the area of eating disorders and record investments
in mental health. I am really proud of the work we are doing in the community
that is preventive and designed to assist people recover, as well as delivering
purpose-built facilities.
question. It is an opportunity to talk about the good work that we are doing in
respect of eating disorders and some of the recent announcements and
commitments that we have made. Our government has spent record amounts in
mental health and, in doing that, we have been reshaping how mental health
services are delivered, including in relation to eating disorders. We have a
network of services for young Western Australians with eating disorders. Over
the last three years, we have increased the care that is available in the
community through facilities like Kara Maar in Cockburn, which has been purpose
built and is run with multifunctional teams. It includes things like a kitchen
and a dining room so that people can have an opportunity to recover. We have
similar hubs operating in the north and east metropolitan areas. We have
significantly increased our commitment to care in the community so that we can
be involved in early intervention and preventive services.
Today, member, we have also
announced that, as part of this year's state budget, we have allocated $5 million
towards planning of the state's first residential eating disorder service. This
service will provide care and support in this instance for Western Australians
over the age of 16 who do not need intensive hospital treatment for their
eating disorder but do need longer term—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Minister! Deputy Leader of the
Liberal Party, you asked the question. Let the minister finish her response and
then you will get the chance to ask a supplementary. Carry on, minister.
Ms Meredith Hammat: Thank you, Speaker.
As I was saying,
this service will provide care and support for Western Australians over the age
of 16 who do not need intensive hospital treatment for their eating disorder
but do need longer term therapeutic support in a home-like environment. We hope
that this service will prevent eating disorders from progressing to the point
at which hospitalisation is required, but, for others, we hope this service
will provide care after being discharged from hospital to support recovery
before returning home.
We have made
significant commitments in the area of eating disorders and record investments
in mental health. I am really proud of the work we are doing in the community
that is preventive and designed to assist people recover, as well as delivering
purpose-built facilities.
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