❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding the discharge of mental health patients to backpacker hostels, and the support provided. The Minister denies this is standard practice and outlines general discharge procedures.
AnsweredQoN 41Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL
HEALTH PATIENTS — BACKPACKER HOSTEL
41. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the report in The Sunday Times of 17 January 2016
titled ''Mentally ill in hostels''.
(1) Is
discharging mental health patients to a backpacker hostel being used as an
operational option to free up mental health beds?
(2) When
patients are discharged from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to a backpacker
hostel, who is responsible for —
(a) transport
to the hostel;
(b) the
management of medication; and
(c) supervision over the
subsequent 48 hours?
(3) Who
determines that discharging a patient to a backpacker hostel is an appropriate
option, and in what types of situation?
(4) Will the
minister table a copy of the generic discharge documentation provided to the
patient in these instances?
HEALTH PATIENTS — BACKPACKER HOSTEL
41. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the report in The Sunday Times of 17 January 2016
titled ''Mentally ill in hostels''.
(1) Is
discharging mental health patients to a backpacker hostel being used as an
operational option to free up mental health beds?
(2) When
patients are discharged from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to a backpacker
hostel, who is responsible for —
(a) transport
to the hostel;
(b) the
management of medication; and
(c) supervision over the
subsequent 48 hours?
(3) Who
determines that discharging a patient to a backpacker hostel is an appropriate
option, and in what types of situation?
(4) Will the
minister table a copy of the generic discharge documentation provided to the
patient in these instances?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) No; it is
not used as an operational option to free up mental health beds. Firstly, let
me inform the member that mental health patients are discharged based on
clinical decisions, with appropriate services and support in place. Assistance
is also provided to seek suitable accommodation if required. In line with the
Mental Health Act 2014, patients are provided with a comprehensive discharge
plan.
(2) The
following comments pertain to discharge planning in general —
(a) post-discharge
transport is usually negotiated as part of the patient's discharge plan
and usually includes the patient's family and/or carer;
(b) post-discharge
medication management can also be a key component of discharge planning, with
emphasis on the patient's recovery and self-management;
(c) post-discharge
follow-up is based on the patient's specific care needs. If intensive
supervision is required, patients may be transferred to Hospital in The Home,
which may include the patient's bed in a licensed hostel or community
residential facility.
(3) See
response to (1).
(4) Yes; I
table the attached document, which is the information that the member
requested.
[See paper
3836.]
(1) No; it is
not used as an operational option to free up mental health beds. Firstly, let
me inform the member that mental health patients are discharged based on
clinical decisions, with appropriate services and support in place. Assistance
is also provided to seek suitable accommodation if required. In line with the
Mental Health Act 2014, patients are provided with a comprehensive discharge
plan.
(2) The
following comments pertain to discharge planning in general —
(a) post-discharge
transport is usually negotiated as part of the patient's discharge plan
and usually includes the patient's family and/or carer;
(b) post-discharge
medication management can also be a key component of discharge planning, with
emphasis on the patient's recovery and self-management;
(c) post-discharge
follow-up is based on the patient's specific care needs. If intensive
supervision is required, patients may be transferred to Hospital in The Home,
which may include the patient's bed in a licensed hostel or community
residential facility.
(3) See
response to (1).
(4) Yes; I
table the attached document, which is the information that the member
requested.
[See paper
3836.]
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