❓ The Minister for Mental Health updates the house on the progress of the new Mental Health Commission, highlighting its role in procuring community-based mental health services and the introduction of a ring-fenced budget for mental health.
AnsweredQoN 211Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION
Will the minister update the house on the progress of the new Mental Health Commission? Dr G.G. JACOBS
Will the minister update the house on the progress of the new Mental Health Commission? Dr G.G. JACOBS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Carine for his question and his interest in delivering better services for people with mental illness. In opposition it was very clear to us that in fact we had to do something different in order to deliver better mental health services for people with mental illness. Although we did very well in the acute area, and people have heard me say this before, the main game was in supporting people in the community—what we did before they needed acute treatment and certainly what happened after they left acute treatment. This is the main role of the commission. We have formed the commission and it became operational on 8 March. It moved into new premises in St Georges Terrace on Monday. I visited there when it moved in yesterday. It was really important that structurally we did something in order to deliver services; not to provide services ourselves but in fact to procure and purchase services for people with mental illness. That goes across public, private and non-government organisations and the community to deliver the best services and indeed the best value for money. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for Carine for his question and his interest in delivering better services for people with mental illness. In opposition it was very clear to us that in fact we had to do something different in order to deliver better mental health services for people with mental illness. Although we did very well in the acute area, and people have heard me say this before, the main game was in supporting people in the community—what we did before they needed acute treatment and certainly what happened after they left acute treatment. This is the main role of the commission. We have formed the commission and it became operational on 8 March. It moved into new premises in St Georges Terrace on Monday. I visited there when it moved in yesterday. It was really important that structurally we did something in order to deliver services; not to provide services ourselves but in fact to procure and purchase services for people with mental illness. That goes across public, private and non-government organisations and the community to deliver the best services and indeed the best value for money. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
I thank the member for Carine for his question and his interest in delivering better services for people with mental illness. In opposition it was very clear to us that in fact we had to do something different in order to deliver better mental health services for people with mental illness. Although we did very well in the acute area, and people have heard me say this before, the main game was in supporting people in the community—what we did before they needed acute treatment and certainly what happened after they left acute treatment. This is the main role of the commission. We have formed the commission and it became operational on 8 March. It moved into new premises in St Georges Terrace on Monday. I visited there when it moved in yesterday. It was really important that structurally we did something in order to deliver services; not to provide services ourselves but in fact to procure and purchase services for people with mental illness. That goes across public, private and non-government organisations and the community to deliver the best services and indeed the best value for money. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for Carine for his question and his interest in delivering better services for people with mental illness. In opposition it was very clear to us that in fact we had to do something different in order to deliver better mental health services for people with mental illness. Although we did very well in the acute area, and people have heard me say this before, the main game was in supporting people in the community—what we did before they needed acute treatment and certainly what happened after they left acute treatment. This is the main role of the commission. We have formed the commission and it became operational on 8 March. It moved into new premises in St Georges Terrace on Monday. I visited there when it moved in yesterday. It was really important that structurally we did something in order to deliver services; not to provide services ourselves but in fact to procure and purchase services for people with mental illness. That goes across public, private and non-government organisations and the community to deliver the best services and indeed the best value for money. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
I thank the member for Carine for his question and his interest in delivering better services for people with mental illness. In opposition it was very clear to us that in fact we had to do something different in order to deliver better mental health services for people with mental illness. Although we did very well in the acute area, and people have heard me say this before, the main game was in supporting people in the community—what we did before they needed acute treatment and certainly what happened after they left acute treatment. This is the main role of the commission. We have formed the commission and it became operational on 8 March. It moved into new premises in St Georges Terrace on Monday. I visited there when it moved in yesterday. It was really important that structurally we did something in order to deliver services; not to provide services ourselves but in fact to procure and purchase services for people with mental illness. That goes across public, private and non-government organisations and the community to deliver the best services and indeed the best value for money. Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
The SPEAKER : Member for Perth! Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
Dr G.G. JACOBS : It is for that whole area of acute beds as well as services and step-down beds as people transition back into the community after an acute illness, the whole issue of community services residential units and how people are supported in the community and the whole issue of community options. This government is committed to building 200 of those community options and community services residential units, of which there are 147 through this program. It was very important that we did not go down the same track in trying to provide improved services and identify gaps, and there are gaps, and we hear about those gaps every day. It is important that the commission identifies where the systemic issues are and has the ability and, as it were, the grunt to actually do something about it. It gives me great pleasure, and it is an exciting structural change. The acting commissioner is doing an excellent job. For the first time, I would say in the history of this Parliament, we will present—this is the only bit of the budget I will tell members opposite about—a ring-fenced budget for mental health. For the first time we will know how much money we are devoting to mental health. When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
When I took this job, I asked many questions, one of which was: how much money do we devote to mental health in Western Australia? No-one could give me an answer. They went on about percentages of the health budget but no-one could give me an answer. My second question, which was not a complex question, was: how much do we devote to acute mental health and community supports? There was no answer. Members opposite have two sleeps to wait until I show them how much we spend on mental health and how much we devote to acute care and to community care. The commission is an important part of that process.
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