❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding mental health presentations of children and adolescents at WA emergency departments, including length of stay and hospital admissions. The response provides data on hospital attendances but not length of stay or recommended maximums.
AnsweredQoN 5123Legislative Assembly
Asked
7 May 2019
Member
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many children and adolescents deemed to have mental health issues, when triaged at an emergency department, presented to metropolitan emergency departments each year since 2015, by hospital? (2) How many children and adolescents deemed to have mental health issues, when triaged at an emergency department, presented to regional emergency departments each year since 2015, by hospital? (3) What is the recommended maximum length of stay for children under the age of 16 who present with mental health issues to emergency departments? (4) What is the average length of stay for children under the age of 16 in emergency departments? (5) What is the recommended maximum length of stay for adolescents aged between 16 and 18 who present with mental health issues to emergency departments? (6) What is the average length of stay for adolescents aged between 16 and 18 in emergency departments? (7) When admitted to a hospital mental health unit: (a) What
is the average length of stay for children under the age of 16; and (b) What is the average length of stay for adolescents aged between 16 and 18?
is the average length of stay for children under the age of 16; and (b) What is the average length of stay for adolescents aged between 16 and 18?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2019
Response time
9 days
(1) Table 1: Number of Emergency Department Mental Health Attendances for all WA Metropolitan Hospitals by Calendar Year.
Hospital
2015
2016
2017
2018
Royal Perth Hospital
35
37
35
24
Fremantle Hospital
11
N/A
N/A
N/A
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
1,224
1,305
1,474
628
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
0
0
0
0
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
16
29
24
20
Fiona Stanley Hospital
296
327
465
415
Perth Children's Hospital
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,066
Armadale Health Service
200
201
198
226
Swan District Hospital
137
N/A
N/A
N/A
Rockingham General Hospital
220
238
290
249
Joondalup Health Campus
294
391
370
426
Peel Health Campus
138
171
147
78
St John of God Midland Public Hospital
28
187
189
269
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
Fremantle Hospital’s Emergency Department closed on the 03 Feb 2015. Fiona Stanley Hospital’s Emergency Department opened on the same day.
Swan District Hospital Closed on 24 Nov 2015. St John of God Midland Public Hospital opened on the same day.
Princess Margaret Hospital closed on 10 June 2018. Perth Children’s Hospital opened on the same day.
(2) Table 2: Number of Emergency Department Mental Health Attendances for all WA Country Hospitals by Calendar Year.
Hospital
2015
2016
2017
2018
Fitzroy Crossing Hospital
13
9
10
11
Halls Creek Hospital
5
2
7
12
Hedland Health Campus
26
45
70
67
Karratha Health Campus
N/A
N/A
N/A
19
Albany Hospital
96
59
89
71
Augusta Hospital
0
0
0
0
Broome Hospital
36
23
59
62
Bunbury Hospital
153
186
187
223
Busselton Hospital
30
28
67
85
Carnarvon Hospital
11
15
12
14
Collie Hospital
15
36
17
19
Denmark Hospital
3
2
3
4
Derby Hospital
16
23
18
40
Esperance Hospital
18
19
29
31
Exmouth Hospital
2
5
6
9
Geraldton Hospital
55
67
74
125
Kalgoorlie Hospital
65
52
90
73
Katanning Hospital
19
13
9
7
Lake Grace Hospital
0
0
1
0
Margaret River Hospital
8
12
13
28
Meekatharra Hospital
6
7
11
2
Merredin Hospital
2
6
6
3
Narrogin Hospital
24
10
8
14
Northam Hospital
22
21
22
18
Onslow Hospital
2
1
5
2
Roebourne Hospital
5
4
2
5
Wagin Hospital
2
1
0
1
Wyndham Hospital
3
4
6
1
York Hospital
2
2
4
3
Tom Price Hospital
3
12
10
10
Kununurra Hospital
30
28
28
39
Newman Hospital
6
13
13
4
Paraburdoo Hospital
5
2
3
7
Donnybrook Hospital
1
2
7
3
Laverton Hospital
1
3
0
3
Leonora Hospital
5
3
0
1
Beverley Hospital
2
1
0
1
Boddington Hospital
2
1
1
3
Bruce Rock Memorial Hospital
0
0
0
0
Corrigin Hospital
3
2
1
0
Cunderdin Hospital
0
0
0
0
Dalwallinu Hospital
0
0
2
3
Dumbleyung Memorial Hospital
0
1
0
0
Kellerberrin Memorial Hospital
2
0
4
2
Gnowangerup Hospital
2
0
0
0
Goomalling Hospital
2
0
0
2
Harvey Hospital
6
3
4
22
Kondinin Hospital
1
0
0
0
Kununoppin Hospital
0
0
0
0
Moora Hospital
5
5
3
4
Morawa Hospital
7
1
0
1
Mullewa Hospital
2
2
2
0
Nannup Hospital
0
1
1
0
Narembeen Memorial Hospital
0
0
0
0
Norseman Hospital
1
2
0
0
Northampton Hospital
1
1
0
0
North Midlands Hospital
0
0
1
1
Pemberton Hospital
1
1
1
3
Pingelly Hospital
0
0
1
N/A
Plantagenet Hospital
5
3
13
1
Ravensthorpe Hospital
1
0
1
0
Southern Cross Hospital
0
2
3
3
Boyup Brook Soldiers Memorial Hospital
1
0
1
0
Warren Hospital
11
21
16
21
Wongan Hills Hospital
1
4
4
0
Wyalkatchem-Koorda and Districts Hospital
4
0
0
1
Bridgetown Hospital
11
12
9
9
Kojonup Hospital
1
0
1
5
Quairading Hospital
1
2
0
1
Nickol Bay Hospital
46
43
48
39
Kalbarri Hospital
0
1
2
0
Dongara Hospital
1
9
1
2
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
Nickol Bay Hospital closed on the 19 Sep 2018. Karratha Health Campus opened on the same day.
Pingelly Hospital became a nursing post on the 01 Jan 2018.
(3) There is ‘no recommended maximum length of stay’ (in emergency departments) for patients who present with mental health issues to emergency departments. The Western Australia Emergency Access Target (WEAT) is four hours for all patients, including patients presenting with mental illness.
(4) Table 3: Median Length of Episode for Children under the age of 16 in WA Emergency Departments by Calendar Year.
Year
Median Length of Episode (Minutes)
2015
103
2016
110
2017
113
2018
115
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
(5) There is ‘no recommended maximum length of stay’ (in emergency departments) for patients who present with mental health issues to emergency departments. The Western Australia Emergency Access Target (WEAT) is four hours for all patients, including patients presenting with mental illness.
(6) Table 4: Median Length of Episode for Children between the ages of 16 and 18 in WA Emergency Departments by Calendar Year.
Year
Median Length of Episode (Minutes)
2015
120
2016
130
2017
129
2018
133
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
(7)(a) The average length of stay for children under the age of 16 admitted to a hospital mental health unit:
Year
Average Length of Stay (Days)
2015
7.2
2016
7.2
2017
9.0
2018
6.8
(7)(b) The average length of stay for adolescents aged between 16 and 18 admitted to a hospital mental health unit:
Year
Average Length of Stay (Days)
2015
8.0
2016
7.7
2017
8.6
2018
8.4
Hospital
2015
2016
2017
2018
Royal Perth Hospital
35
37
35
24
Fremantle Hospital
11
N/A
N/A
N/A
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
1,224
1,305
1,474
628
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
0
0
0
0
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
16
29
24
20
Fiona Stanley Hospital
296
327
465
415
Perth Children's Hospital
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,066
Armadale Health Service
200
201
198
226
Swan District Hospital
137
N/A
N/A
N/A
Rockingham General Hospital
220
238
290
249
Joondalup Health Campus
294
391
370
426
Peel Health Campus
138
171
147
78
St John of God Midland Public Hospital
28
187
189
269
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
Fremantle Hospital’s Emergency Department closed on the 03 Feb 2015. Fiona Stanley Hospital’s Emergency Department opened on the same day.
Swan District Hospital Closed on 24 Nov 2015. St John of God Midland Public Hospital opened on the same day.
Princess Margaret Hospital closed on 10 June 2018. Perth Children’s Hospital opened on the same day.
(2) Table 2: Number of Emergency Department Mental Health Attendances for all WA Country Hospitals by Calendar Year.
Hospital
2015
2016
2017
2018
Fitzroy Crossing Hospital
13
9
10
11
Halls Creek Hospital
5
2
7
12
Hedland Health Campus
26
45
70
67
Karratha Health Campus
N/A
N/A
N/A
19
Albany Hospital
96
59
89
71
Augusta Hospital
0
0
0
0
Broome Hospital
36
23
59
62
Bunbury Hospital
153
186
187
223
Busselton Hospital
30
28
67
85
Carnarvon Hospital
11
15
12
14
Collie Hospital
15
36
17
19
Denmark Hospital
3
2
3
4
Derby Hospital
16
23
18
40
Esperance Hospital
18
19
29
31
Exmouth Hospital
2
5
6
9
Geraldton Hospital
55
67
74
125
Kalgoorlie Hospital
65
52
90
73
Katanning Hospital
19
13
9
7
Lake Grace Hospital
0
0
1
0
Margaret River Hospital
8
12
13
28
Meekatharra Hospital
6
7
11
2
Merredin Hospital
2
6
6
3
Narrogin Hospital
24
10
8
14
Northam Hospital
22
21
22
18
Onslow Hospital
2
1
5
2
Roebourne Hospital
5
4
2
5
Wagin Hospital
2
1
0
1
Wyndham Hospital
3
4
6
1
York Hospital
2
2
4
3
Tom Price Hospital
3
12
10
10
Kununurra Hospital
30
28
28
39
Newman Hospital
6
13
13
4
Paraburdoo Hospital
5
2
3
7
Donnybrook Hospital
1
2
7
3
Laverton Hospital
1
3
0
3
Leonora Hospital
5
3
0
1
Beverley Hospital
2
1
0
1
Boddington Hospital
2
1
1
3
Bruce Rock Memorial Hospital
0
0
0
0
Corrigin Hospital
3
2
1
0
Cunderdin Hospital
0
0
0
0
Dalwallinu Hospital
0
0
2
3
Dumbleyung Memorial Hospital
0
1
0
0
Kellerberrin Memorial Hospital
2
0
4
2
Gnowangerup Hospital
2
0
0
0
Goomalling Hospital
2
0
0
2
Harvey Hospital
6
3
4
22
Kondinin Hospital
1
0
0
0
Kununoppin Hospital
0
0
0
0
Moora Hospital
5
5
3
4
Morawa Hospital
7
1
0
1
Mullewa Hospital
2
2
2
0
Nannup Hospital
0
1
1
0
Narembeen Memorial Hospital
0
0
0
0
Norseman Hospital
1
2
0
0
Northampton Hospital
1
1
0
0
North Midlands Hospital
0
0
1
1
Pemberton Hospital
1
1
1
3
Pingelly Hospital
0
0
1
N/A
Plantagenet Hospital
5
3
13
1
Ravensthorpe Hospital
1
0
1
0
Southern Cross Hospital
0
2
3
3
Boyup Brook Soldiers Memorial Hospital
1
0
1
0
Warren Hospital
11
21
16
21
Wongan Hills Hospital
1
4
4
0
Wyalkatchem-Koorda and Districts Hospital
4
0
0
1
Bridgetown Hospital
11
12
9
9
Kojonup Hospital
1
0
1
5
Quairading Hospital
1
2
0
1
Nickol Bay Hospital
46
43
48
39
Kalbarri Hospital
0
1
2
0
Dongara Hospital
1
9
1
2
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
Nickol Bay Hospital closed on the 19 Sep 2018. Karratha Health Campus opened on the same day.
Pingelly Hospital became a nursing post on the 01 Jan 2018.
(3) There is ‘no recommended maximum length of stay’ (in emergency departments) for patients who present with mental health issues to emergency departments. The Western Australia Emergency Access Target (WEAT) is four hours for all patients, including patients presenting with mental illness.
(4) Table 3: Median Length of Episode for Children under the age of 16 in WA Emergency Departments by Calendar Year.
Year
Median Length of Episode (Minutes)
2015
103
2016
110
2017
113
2018
115
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
(5) There is ‘no recommended maximum length of stay’ (in emergency departments) for patients who present with mental health issues to emergency departments. The Western Australia Emergency Access Target (WEAT) is four hours for all patients, including patients presenting with mental illness.
(6) Table 4: Median Length of Episode for Children between the ages of 16 and 18 in WA Emergency Departments by Calendar Year.
Year
Median Length of Episode (Minutes)
2015
120
2016
130
2017
129
2018
133
Source: Emergency Department Data Collection, Purchasing and System Performance Division, Department of Health WA.
Date: 09 May 2019.
Notes: Data is provisional and subject to revision.
(7)(a) The average length of stay for children under the age of 16 admitted to a hospital mental health unit:
Year
Average Length of Stay (Days)
2015
7.2
2016
7.2
2017
9.0
2018
6.8
(7)(b) The average length of stay for adolescents aged between 16 and 18 admitted to a hospital mental health unit:
Year
Average Length of Stay (Days)
2015
8.0
2016
7.7
2017
8.6
2018
8.4
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