❓ Mr Norberger asks about the benefits of the new mental health observation area at Joondalup Health Campus for his community. The Minister details the facility's features, funding, and its positive impact on mental health service delivery and emergency department efficiency.
AnsweredQoN 263Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JOONDALUP HEALTH CAMPUS — MENTAL HEALTH
OBSERVATION AREA
263. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for
Health:
I was very pleased to attend
Joondalup Health Campus with the minister this morning for the government's
announcement of a new mental health observation area. Can the minister please
advise the house what this facility will mean for my community?
OBSERVATION AREA
263. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister for
Health:
I was very pleased to attend
Joondalup Health Campus with the minister this morning for the government's
announcement of a new mental health observation area. Can the minister please
advise the house what this facility will mean for my community?
AnswerView source ↗
I was very pleased to visit
Joondalup Health Campus this morning with not only the member for Joondalup,
but also the Minister for Mental Health and the Treasurer. This shows a very
strong interest and commitment by the government to expand our front-line
services in our health facilities and in relation to mental health provision
specifically. I am advised that the emergency department at Joondalup Health
Campus is one of the busiest in Australia, with almost 100 000 cases to deal
with each year. Of those, about three per cent present with a mental health
problem, and about one-third of those cases each year, or about 900 out of the
3 000 who present with a mental health problem, need to be admitted. The
experience at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where a separate mental health
observation area was established about two years ago, has been very positive in
indicating that it is far better to be able to separate mental health patients
from the general emergency department wherever that can be done. It is better
for the mental health patients themselves and it is better for other users of
the emergency department. I am very pleased to say that the government has
committed in the budget to be presented by the Treasurer tomorrow to
establishing a new mental health observation area at Joondalup Health Campus.
There is $5.1 million being provided by the state government together with $2 million
from Ramsay Health Care through Joondalup Health Campus to create a $7.1 million
facility. It will be a 10-bed observation and treatment area with interview
rooms and appropriate quiet areas as well.
Mental health issues in our
community is one of the areas of significant increase in demand and one that we
have addressed substantially since we have been in government. I understand
that the amount of funding provided to the Mental Health Commission has
increased by about 84 per cent, including treatment for alcohol and other
drugs. That is a very substantial commitment indeed, and we expect that this
new mental health observation area at Joondalup Health Campus will be very
important and welcome to residents of the northern suburbs who need to make use
of such a facility. From what was expressed to us this morning it will
certainly be very welcome to staff working there, and it will build on the
mental health observation area at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. We hope to
establish them at other appropriate locations in time as well.
Joondalup Health Campus this morning with not only the member for Joondalup,
but also the Minister for Mental Health and the Treasurer. This shows a very
strong interest and commitment by the government to expand our front-line
services in our health facilities and in relation to mental health provision
specifically. I am advised that the emergency department at Joondalup Health
Campus is one of the busiest in Australia, with almost 100 000 cases to deal
with each year. Of those, about three per cent present with a mental health
problem, and about one-third of those cases each year, or about 900 out of the
3 000 who present with a mental health problem, need to be admitted. The
experience at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where a separate mental health
observation area was established about two years ago, has been very positive in
indicating that it is far better to be able to separate mental health patients
from the general emergency department wherever that can be done. It is better
for the mental health patients themselves and it is better for other users of
the emergency department. I am very pleased to say that the government has
committed in the budget to be presented by the Treasurer tomorrow to
establishing a new mental health observation area at Joondalup Health Campus.
There is $5.1 million being provided by the state government together with $2 million
from Ramsay Health Care through Joondalup Health Campus to create a $7.1 million
facility. It will be a 10-bed observation and treatment area with interview
rooms and appropriate quiet areas as well.
Mental health issues in our
community is one of the areas of significant increase in demand and one that we
have addressed substantially since we have been in government. I understand
that the amount of funding provided to the Mental Health Commission has
increased by about 84 per cent, including treatment for alcohol and other
drugs. That is a very substantial commitment indeed, and we expect that this
new mental health observation area at Joondalup Health Campus will be very
important and welcome to residents of the northern suburbs who need to make use
of such a facility. From what was expressed to us this morning it will
certainly be very welcome to staff working there, and it will build on the
mental health observation area at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. We hope to
establish them at other appropriate locations in time as well.
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