❓ Question regarding the admission of children to the adult mental health ward at Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital, and the Minister's awareness and actions taken to address this issue. The Minister's response indicates a lack of familiarity with the specific issue but acknowledges the need for improved child and adolescent mental health services in regional areas.
AnsweredQoN 716Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
KALGOORLIE REGIONAL HOSPITAL — MENTAL HEALTH WARD
It certainly took a long time to get here, so I am appreciative of the call. Hon Michael Mischin : Behave yourself. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I do behave myself. My question without notice is to the Minister for Mental Health. I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON
It certainly took a long time to get here, so I am appreciative of the call. Hon Michael Mischin : Behave yourself. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I do behave myself. My question without notice is to the Minister for Mental Health. I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Michael Mischin : Behave yourself. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I do behave myself. My question without notice is to the Minister for Mental Health. I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I do behave myself. My question without notice is to the Minister for Mental Health. I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Michael Mischin : Behave yourself. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I do behave myself. My question without notice is to the Minister for Mental Health. I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I do behave myself. My question without notice is to the Minister for Mental Health. I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
I refer to the evidence that the minister gave to the estimates committee on health in which she revealed that in the last 12 months, 13 children aged 17 years or younger had been admitted to the mental health ward of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. (1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(1) When was the minister first made aware that so many children were being admitted to this adult mental health ward? (2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(2) What action has the minister taken to date to address the issue of children in adult wards? (3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(3) If no action has been taken to date, what action does the minister intend to take? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
(1)–(3) In the information that was provided in estimates about Kalgoorlie hospital, the area that I recall being of most significance was about issues to do with suicides in the area. In terms of the number of children who have been admitted to — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You signed off on it. Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : — adult units in the Kalgoorlie region, that is not something at this stage I am that familiar with. If that is the case, I intend to get further information on it. If I recall rightly, it is about the ages of people in about the 16 to 18-year-old group. People in that age group, because of the lack of in-patient facilities for children, sometimes go to adult services. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Try as young as 13! Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I actually agree that if a person needs access to in-patient care, with the special security services that can be provided to children—if there is no child and adolescent service in their local area and they do not want to come to the metropolitan area to access that service—then that may be the better outcome. But I can tell the member right now that the preference for children is not to go into hospital at all. To provide the range of support services, the intensive care and the intensive wraparound services for those children in the community — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : They are non-existent in Kalgoorlie and you know it! They are non-existent in regional areas and you know it! Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Would you mind your manners, please! Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : There’s nothing wrong with my manners! The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We want information about the questions. We do not want personal insults traded across the chamber. Minister, I think you are coming to near the end of your answer. Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I was coming very close to the end of it, other than to say, in the same way that I made the comment to Hon Adele Farina, that the Mental Health Commission and I are very aware that the provision of child and adolescent services in the non-metropolitan area is a very high priority. It is getting the highest level of prioritisation in growth funding, and we will be pursuing it.
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