❓ A parliamentary question addresses a child and adolescent mental health service bed crisis in August 2012, specifically regarding bed availability and placement of young people in adult units. The Minister acknowledges the crisis, outlines strategies implemented, and confirms the specific details of the situation, including no children being placed in adult units.
AnsweredQoN 717Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
717. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the child and adolescent mental health service bed
crisis in August of this year.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that on Friday, 3 August 2012, Ward 4H at Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children and the Bentley adolescent unit were full, with a queue
of five young people waiting for beds?
(2) How many of the five young people waiting for a bed were
placed in an adult unit?
(3) How long did each person spend in the adult unit?
(4) In
addition to the five young people waiting for a bed, can the minister advise
how many others were being managed intensively in the community whilst waiting
for a bed?
717. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the child and adolescent mental health service bed
crisis in August of this year.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that on Friday, 3 August 2012, Ward 4H at Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children and the Bentley adolescent unit were full, with a queue
of five young people waiting for beds?
(2) How many of the five young people waiting for a bed were
placed in an adult unit?
(3) How long did each person spend in the adult unit?
(4) In
addition to the five young people waiting for a bed, can the minister advise
how many others were being managed intensively in the community whilst waiting
for a bed?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question.
In the three months
leading up to August, three young people died, and these young people were all
connected by social media. Although some of the social media that young people
engage in is positive in that they get to talk about their problems, it can
also have a negative impact on their social and emotional wellbeing if used
inappropriately. This is what occurred in the time that I am talking about.
It was quickly recognised by the Department of Health, the Department of
Education and the Mental Health Commission that there was potential for
increased unseasonable demand for mental health services at that time.
Strategies were put in place to respond to the increased demand, and these complemented
the recent strategies that had already been put in place—the acute
community intervention team and the acute response team from Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children. This is all about providing a higher level of intensive
services for people —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don't you just answer the
questions?
Hon HELEN MORTON : I am getting there.
These strategies are
about providing intensive services to people in homes, perhaps people who do
not require admission, where possible.
Young people and their
families heeded the advice given by those government agencies collectively to
seek help. They recognised the signs and took it seriously, and I applaud them
for doing that. This meant that they went to services, such as the emergency
department at Princess Margaret Hospital, general practitioners, Bentley
adolescent unit, school psychologists, Youth Focus et cetera. In one 72-hour
period, 21 children were assessed at the Princess Margaret Hospital emergency
department, and I applaud these parents for taking their concerns seriously.
Some parents understandably wanted to admit their son or daughter to hospital
for safety and security. We were able to provide that safety and security in a
combination of ways—for example, some in hospital and much more intensive
community services in the community. I am pleased to say that the crisis has
passed and attendance at emergency departments is now at a normal level. I was
kept informed on a daily basis by the Mental Health Commission and the
Department of Health about the ongoing increased demand that was occurring in
child and adolescent mental health services around the state. The ongoing
follow-up of these young children in the community is the now the focus of the
services.
In specific answer
to the question —
(1) Yes.
(2) Nil.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Nil.
for some notice of the question.
In the three months
leading up to August, three young people died, and these young people were all
connected by social media. Although some of the social media that young people
engage in is positive in that they get to talk about their problems, it can
also have a negative impact on their social and emotional wellbeing if used
inappropriately. This is what occurred in the time that I am talking about.
It was quickly recognised by the Department of Health, the Department of
Education and the Mental Health Commission that there was potential for
increased unseasonable demand for mental health services at that time.
Strategies were put in place to respond to the increased demand, and these complemented
the recent strategies that had already been put in place—the acute
community intervention team and the acute response team from Princess Margaret
Hospital for Children. This is all about providing a higher level of intensive
services for people —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Why don't you just answer the
questions?
Hon HELEN MORTON : I am getting there.
These strategies are
about providing intensive services to people in homes, perhaps people who do
not require admission, where possible.
Young people and their
families heeded the advice given by those government agencies collectively to
seek help. They recognised the signs and took it seriously, and I applaud them
for doing that. This meant that they went to services, such as the emergency
department at Princess Margaret Hospital, general practitioners, Bentley
adolescent unit, school psychologists, Youth Focus et cetera. In one 72-hour
period, 21 children were assessed at the Princess Margaret Hospital emergency
department, and I applaud these parents for taking their concerns seriously.
Some parents understandably wanted to admit their son or daughter to hospital
for safety and security. We were able to provide that safety and security in a
combination of ways—for example, some in hospital and much more intensive
community services in the community. I am pleased to say that the crisis has
passed and attendance at emergency departments is now at a normal level. I was
kept informed on a daily basis by the Mental Health Commission and the
Department of Health about the ongoing increased demand that was occurring in
child and adolescent mental health services around the state. The ongoing
follow-up of these young children in the community is the now the focus of the
services.
In specific answer
to the question —
(1) Yes.
(2) Nil.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Nil.
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