❓ Mr Hort questions the closure of Bentley Family Clinic, a mental health service for children. The Minister assures services aren't closing but being relocated temporarily due to expansion works, with alternative sites and telehealth available.
AnsweredQoN 392Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Bentley Family Clinic
392. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to advice to
patients of Bentley Family Clinic, which provides specialist public mental
health care to more than 120 local children and adolescents, that it will close
at the end of September 2025.
(1) Why has the government decided to close this essential
service, leaving families to travel up to 20 kilometres further to access
treatment for their children?
(2) Will the minister confirm that despite a
suitable location being identified for BFC, funding to re-establish the service
was not provided?
(3) Has the minister considered the serious
concerns raised by clinicians about the potential negative impact this closure
will have on children's continuity of care?
392. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to advice to
patients of Bentley Family Clinic, which provides specialist public mental
health care to more than 120 local children and adolescents, that it will close
at the end of September 2025.
(1) Why has the government decided to close this essential
service, leaving families to travel up to 20 kilometres further to access
treatment for their children?
(2) Will the minister confirm that despite a
suitable location being identified for BFC, funding to re-establish the service
was not provided?
(3) Has the minister considered the serious
concerns raised by clinicians about the potential negative impact this closure
will have on children's continuity of care?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the
question. As a government, we are very focused on making sure young people, in
particular those experiencing mental health challenges, get access to
appropriate care and appropriate support. Young
people often need to access that care in a variety of ways, and their families
are an important part of that as well; we need to make sure that they are
able to access the care that they need. That is why we have invested
significantly in mental health services, particularly for children and young
people. At the most recent state budget alone, we made $65.5 million worth of election
commitments for mental health services for children and young people in Western
Australia. We are making significant investments to ensure young people,
particularly those who are experiencing mental health concerns, get the care
that they need.
The relocation of the Bentley Family
Clinic service is part of a project to ensure that we can undertake works to
expand services related to the East Metropolitan Health Service, particularly
the delivery of the commitment to build a surgicentre. I have been advised by
the Child and Adolescent Health Service that families have been contacted to
advise them in relation to the change. Alternative sites will be available while
we work to relocate that service to another area in the catchment zone, so
people will have access to services at, I am advised—
Several members
interjected.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: No, the service is not
closing.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The services are not closing; the
services are being relocated whilst we—
Mr Adam Hort: They will come back.
The Speaker: Members.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are being relocated whilst we
identify an appropriate site in that same catchment zone. For a temporary
period, services will be available at Midland, Armadale and Murdoch, with
telehealth available for those who need to access it. The service will return
when a suitable site where that work can be conducted is located.
question. As a government, we are very focused on making sure young people, in
particular those experiencing mental health challenges, get access to
appropriate care and appropriate support. Young
people often need to access that care in a variety of ways, and their families
are an important part of that as well; we need to make sure that they are
able to access the care that they need. That is why we have invested
significantly in mental health services, particularly for children and young
people. At the most recent state budget alone, we made $65.5 million worth of election
commitments for mental health services for children and young people in Western
Australia. We are making significant investments to ensure young people,
particularly those who are experiencing mental health concerns, get the care
that they need.
The relocation of the Bentley Family
Clinic service is part of a project to ensure that we can undertake works to
expand services related to the East Metropolitan Health Service, particularly
the delivery of the commitment to build a surgicentre. I have been advised by
the Child and Adolescent Health Service that families have been contacted to
advise them in relation to the change. Alternative sites will be available while
we work to relocate that service to another area in the catchment zone, so
people will have access to services at, I am advised—
Several members
interjected.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: No, the service is not
closing.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The services are not closing; the
services are being relocated whilst we—
Mr Adam Hort: They will come back.
The Speaker: Members.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are being relocated whilst we
identify an appropriate site in that same catchment zone. For a temporary
period, services will be available at Midland, Armadale and Murdoch, with
telehealth available for those who need to access it. The service will return
when a suitable site where that work can be conducted is located.
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