❓ The Minister for Health provides an update on the $22.2 million funding boost for mental health services, including the new unit at Fremantle Hospital, decommissioning Graylands Hospital, and establishing recovery colleges.
AnsweredQoN 295Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
295. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's $22.2 million funding boost for an increase in mental
health beds and improved services, including a new mental health unit at
Fremantle Hospital. Can the minister update the house on how this funding will
support those with a mental illness and deliver on this government's
commitment to putting patients first?
295. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's $22.2 million funding boost for an increase in mental
health beds and improved services, including a new mental health unit at
Fremantle Hospital. Can the minister update the house on how this funding will
support those with a mental illness and deliver on this government's
commitment to putting patients first?
AnswerView source ↗
Before answering this question, I acknowledge
the representatives of the Women's Cancer Foundation whom I have just
had to lunch. It was a very good opportunity to catch up on issues around
ovarian cancer.
I thank the member for Bicton for
the question. It was delightful this morning to be out there making an
announcement near the member for Bicton's electorate, of course, with
the member for Fremantle and Josh Wilson, the federal Labor member for
Fremantle—we wish him all the very best in the coming election. It was
great to be in that electorate to announce a $22.2 million funding boost for
more mental health beds and support for people suffering from mental health
conditions. The main allocation was $15.6 million as part of the 2019–20
state budget to open a second 20-bed secure mental health unit at Fremantle
Hospital. This represents a significant increase in the capacity of our acute
mental health services, because we know that when patients are in our emergency
department suffering from an acute mental health episode, the best thing for
them is to get into a long-term mental health bed so they can get onto their
journey of recovery.
This funding will boost the number
of beds in the Fremantle Hospital precinct, and add to the current 48 acute
adult inpatient mental health beds and 16 inpatient beds at the Fremantle
Hospital campus for older adults with a mental illness. We are building upon
the capacity of that hospital, which is a really important thing to be doing.
We want patients to be cared for in their communities, surrounded by their
loved ones and where their support networks are. This announcement comes on top
of a $3 million commitment to begin comprehensive planning to decommission the
Graylands Hospital site, with a view to reconfiguring mental health services to
reflect a contemporary and more appropriate model of care. This will come with
some challenges. I have noticed already that because of the stigmatisation of
mental health, we have heard some negative commentary around the idea that we
should have more acute mental health beds in the Fremantle area. However, it is
important that people understand and move beyond ignorance, by saying that this
is about making sure we have mental health services in our community because
mental health is everyone's business. This is a really important
opportunity to begin the decommissioning process of mental health beds at
Graylands Hospital, which is now a very old facility that has a very outdated
model of care.
In
addition, we announced $3.6 million to meet a very important McGowan government
election commitment—the development of recovery colleges. I want
people to understand the importance of recovery colleges. Essentially, they use
an educational approach to support an individual's recovery from mental
health, alcohol and other drug issues. This builds upon a model in the United
Kingdom where there have been extraordinarily positive responses. It is about
giving people greater insight into their mental health issues and providing
them with the skills and support they need to continue on their recovery
pathway and to enable them to go on and live happy, healthy lives. They are
really important announcements—$22.2 million—and confirm the
McGowan government's commitment to investing in mental health and
Fremantle Hospital.
the representatives of the Women's Cancer Foundation whom I have just
had to lunch. It was a very good opportunity to catch up on issues around
ovarian cancer.
I thank the member for Bicton for
the question. It was delightful this morning to be out there making an
announcement near the member for Bicton's electorate, of course, with
the member for Fremantle and Josh Wilson, the federal Labor member for
Fremantle—we wish him all the very best in the coming election. It was
great to be in that electorate to announce a $22.2 million funding boost for
more mental health beds and support for people suffering from mental health
conditions. The main allocation was $15.6 million as part of the 2019–20
state budget to open a second 20-bed secure mental health unit at Fremantle
Hospital. This represents a significant increase in the capacity of our acute
mental health services, because we know that when patients are in our emergency
department suffering from an acute mental health episode, the best thing for
them is to get into a long-term mental health bed so they can get onto their
journey of recovery.
This funding will boost the number
of beds in the Fremantle Hospital precinct, and add to the current 48 acute
adult inpatient mental health beds and 16 inpatient beds at the Fremantle
Hospital campus for older adults with a mental illness. We are building upon
the capacity of that hospital, which is a really important thing to be doing.
We want patients to be cared for in their communities, surrounded by their
loved ones and where their support networks are. This announcement comes on top
of a $3 million commitment to begin comprehensive planning to decommission the
Graylands Hospital site, with a view to reconfiguring mental health services to
reflect a contemporary and more appropriate model of care. This will come with
some challenges. I have noticed already that because of the stigmatisation of
mental health, we have heard some negative commentary around the idea that we
should have more acute mental health beds in the Fremantle area. However, it is
important that people understand and move beyond ignorance, by saying that this
is about making sure we have mental health services in our community because
mental health is everyone's business. This is a really important
opportunity to begin the decommissioning process of mental health beds at
Graylands Hospital, which is now a very old facility that has a very outdated
model of care.
In
addition, we announced $3.6 million to meet a very important McGowan government
election commitment—the development of recovery colleges. I want
people to understand the importance of recovery colleges. Essentially, they use
an educational approach to support an individual's recovery from mental
health, alcohol and other drug issues. This builds upon a model in the United
Kingdom where there have been extraordinarily positive responses. It is about
giving people greater insight into their mental health issues and providing
them with the skills and support they need to continue on their recovery
pathway and to enable them to go on and live happy, healthy lives. They are
really important announcements—$22.2 million—and confirm the
McGowan government's commitment to investing in mental health and
Fremantle Hospital.
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