A parliamentary question addresses potential budgetary issues at the Bunbury Health Service mental health unit and the resignation of its only full-time consultant psychiatrist. The response deflects from budgetary concerns, highlighting the health campus's improvements and staffing adjustments.

AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Assembly
Asked
20 September 2000
Member
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the mental health unit of the Bunbury Health Service experiencing budgetary problems? (2) If yes, what is the current estimated budget shortfall? (3) Has the only full-time consultant psychiatrist at the mental health unit resigned? If yes, what were the reasons and when will he be replaced? Mr Court: It is a magnificent health service. Mr DAY

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) As the Premier said, it is a magnificent health campus which has resulted in more services, in both quantity and range, being provided to the people of the south west, and Bunbury in particular, than was ever the case. The existence of the health campus is in marked contrast to the hole in the ground and the concrete pad that the Labor Party left before the change of government in 1993. Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
(2) If yes, what is the current estimated budget shortfall? (3) Has the only full-time consultant psychiatrist at the mental health unit resigned? If yes, what were the reasons and when will he be replaced? Mr Court: It is a magnificent health service. Mr DAY replied: (1)-(2) As the Premier said, it is a magnificent health campus which has resulted in more services, in both quantity and range, being provided to the people of the south west, and Bunbury in particular, than was ever the case. The existence of the health campus is in marked contrast to the hole in the ground and the concrete pad that the Labor Party left before the change of government in 1993. Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
(3) Has the only full-time consultant psychiatrist at the mental health unit resigned? If yes, what were the reasons and when will he be replaced? Mr Court: It is a magnificent health service. Mr DAY replied: (1)-(2) As the Premier said, it is a magnificent health campus which has resulted in more services, in both quantity and range, being provided to the people of the south west, and Bunbury in particular, than was ever the case. The existence of the health campus is in marked contrast to the hole in the ground and the concrete pad that the Labor Party left before the change of government in 1993. Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
Mr Court: It is a magnificent health service. Mr DAY replied: (1)-(2) As the Premier said, it is a magnificent health campus which has resulted in more services, in both quantity and range, being provided to the people of the south west, and Bunbury in particular, than was ever the case. The existence of the health campus is in marked contrast to the hole in the ground and the concrete pad that the Labor Party left before the change of government in 1993. Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
Mr DAY replied: (1)-(2) As the Premier said, it is a magnificent health campus which has resulted in more services, in both quantity and range, being provided to the people of the south west, and Bunbury in particular, than was ever the case. The existence of the health campus is in marked contrast to the hole in the ground and the concrete pad that the Labor Party left before the change of government in 1993. Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
(1)-(2) As the Premier said, it is a magnificent health campus which has resulted in more services, in both quantity and range, being provided to the people of the south west, and Bunbury in particular, than was ever the case. The existence of the health campus is in marked contrast to the hole in the ground and the concrete pad that the Labor Party left before the change of government in 1993. Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
Mr Court: And the Labor Party had a sign advertising a proposed new hospital. Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
Mr DAY: The Opposition specialised in signs, it also had one at Armadale. I am advised that the south west mental health service has received the base budget that was planned. That budget is being managed to ensure that all components of the south west mental health service operate within their budgets, and that includes the acute psychiatric unit at the south west health campus. All the units have developed business plans to manage within their approved base budgets. The financial year ends at June 30 next year, which means that there is another nine months left of this financial year. (3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.
(3) The consultant psychiatrist at the acute psychiatric unit has resigned to take up another position at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. That decision was made by the psychiatrist and was entirely open to him. I am advised that he has been replaced by increasing the hours of the other consultant psychiatrists. The south west mental health service now has two full-time psychiatrists and one part-time psychiatrist providing services for the acute psychiatric unit and the community clinics. The result of the change has been an enhancement of the services provided for the acute psychiatric unit in Bunbury.

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