Hon. Stephen Dawson questions the closure of older adult mental health beds at Rockingham General Hospital, inquiring about the reasons, consultation with medical bodies, and future needs assessment. The response indicates operational reasons for closure, no required consultation, and future need modelling.

AnsweredQoN 1282Legislative Council
Asked
10 November 2016
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

ADULT MENTAL HEALTH BEDS — ROCKINGHAM
GENERAL HOSPITAL
1282. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the currently closed
older adult mental health beds at Rockingham General Hospital.
(1) Can the minister confirm why the
beds are currently closed?
(2) Was the
Australian Medical Association or the Royal Australian and New Zealand College
of Psychiatrists consulted about the closure; and, if not, why not?
(3) Has the
Mental Health Commission undertaken any modelling to determine whether there
will be a need for these beds in the future; and, if not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The four
older adult beds at Rockingham General Hospital are currently closed as the
Rockingham Peel Group mental health services are delivering their purchased
activity with the current open beds.
(2) The number
mental health beds that are open in Rockingham is based on activity purchased
by the Mental Health Commission. The manner in which activity is delivered is
an operational matter for the South Metropolitan Mental Health Service. As
such, there was no requirement to consult with either the Australian Medical
Association or the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
The service is required to meet the national mental health service standards.
(3) Yes, there is
likely to be a need for these beds in the future to accommodate either older
adults, youth or adults. The '' Better
Choices. Better Lives: Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and
Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025'' has modelled the optimal
mix of future bed requirements, including older adult beds.

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