❓ Hon. Ljiljanna Ravlich questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding the transfer of mental health patients from metropolitan to regional hospitals (Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Albany) in 2010 and 2011, and the associated bed days. The Minister's response includes data and a strong rebuttal of any suggestion of inappropriate transfers due to bed shortages.
AnsweredQoN 105Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS — REGIONAL
HOSPITAL TRANSFERS
105. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
My question without notice of which some notice —no;
it is without notice.
(1) How many
mental health patients were transferred from metropolitan area hospitals to
each of the following regional hospitals during 2010 and 2011?
(a) Bunbury;
(b) Kalgoorlie; and
(c) Albany?
(2) What was
the total number of mental health bed days taken up in each of these regional
hospitals by metropolitan area mental health patients during 2010 and 2011?
The PRESIDENT : I have two points. I presume the question
is to the Minister for Mental Health.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, it is.
The PRESIDENT : And did you say it was without notice?
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Of which some notice is given.
HOSPITAL TRANSFERS
105. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
My question without notice of which some notice —no;
it is without notice.
(1) How many
mental health patients were transferred from metropolitan area hospitals to
each of the following regional hospitals during 2010 and 2011?
(a) Bunbury;
(b) Kalgoorlie; and
(c) Albany?
(2) What was
the total number of mental health bed days taken up in each of these regional
hospitals by metropolitan area mental health patients during 2010 and 2011?
The PRESIDENT : I have two points. I presume the question
is to the Minister for Mental Health.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, it is.
The PRESIDENT : And did you say it was without notice?
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Of which some notice is given.
AnswerView source ↗
Yes, it was with notice. I have to say that the member will
be quite unhappy with this response, too.
(1) In 2010,
the number of patients was less than five—that is transfers from a
metropolitan hospital to a country hospital—and in 2011, it was less
than five. In Bunbury in 2010, the number was five, and in 2011 it was 11. In
Kalgoorlie in 2010, the number was zero, and in 2011 it was less than five.
To give the member some extra
information, because I really know what she is driving at here, when a person
is admitted to a metropolitan hospital, such as Graylands, and is transferred
back to the country needing a hospital stay before going home to their
community, an inter-hospital transfer takes place. Please do not try to assume
that there is anything sinister about that other than good practice.
(2) Question (2)
asked about the total number of mental health bed days taken up in each of the
regional hospitals by metropolitan area mental health patients during 2010 and
2011. In 2010 in Albany, the number was 45 days, and in 2011 it was 32 days; in
Bunbury, it was 537 days in 2010 and 685 days in 2011; and in Kalgoorlie it was
11 days in 2010, and 16 days in 2011.
I again caution the member about
trying to make any assertions out of that because if a person from the
metropolitan area travels to a country area and falls sick, they will be
admitted to the nearby hospital. For any assertion that the member is, I know,
trying to run that we do not have enough beds in Perth, so they are sending
people to hospital in Bunbury or wherever —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : That's what they're
telling me.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I know that they would tell you anything
because you would believe anything!
Several members
interjected.
Hon HELEN MORTON : You are unbelievable! You will believe
anything.
I caution that there
is nothing in this answer by which the member can construe that somehow or
other people are being transferred from the metropolitan area to the country
area.
be quite unhappy with this response, too.
(1) In 2010,
the number of patients was less than five—that is transfers from a
metropolitan hospital to a country hospital—and in 2011, it was less
than five. In Bunbury in 2010, the number was five, and in 2011 it was 11. In
Kalgoorlie in 2010, the number was zero, and in 2011 it was less than five.
To give the member some extra
information, because I really know what she is driving at here, when a person
is admitted to a metropolitan hospital, such as Graylands, and is transferred
back to the country needing a hospital stay before going home to their
community, an inter-hospital transfer takes place. Please do not try to assume
that there is anything sinister about that other than good practice.
(2) Question (2)
asked about the total number of mental health bed days taken up in each of the
regional hospitals by metropolitan area mental health patients during 2010 and
2011. In 2010 in Albany, the number was 45 days, and in 2011 it was 32 days; in
Bunbury, it was 537 days in 2010 and 685 days in 2011; and in Kalgoorlie it was
11 days in 2010, and 16 days in 2011.
I again caution the member about
trying to make any assertions out of that because if a person from the
metropolitan area travels to a country area and falls sick, they will be
admitted to the nearby hospital. For any assertion that the member is, I know,
trying to run that we do not have enough beds in Perth, so they are sending
people to hospital in Bunbury or wherever —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : That's what they're
telling me.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I know that they would tell you anything
because you would believe anything!
Several members
interjected.
Hon HELEN MORTON : You are unbelievable! You will believe
anything.
I caution that there
is nothing in this answer by which the member can construe that somehow or
other people are being transferred from the metropolitan area to the country
area.
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