❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about the Western Australian Country Health Service's (WACHS) annual report, specifically regarding regional data availability and mental health service performance against targets. The response clarifies data limitations, national context for target achievement, and community mental health service provisions.
AnsweredQoN 1790Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Western Australian Country Health Services 2013-14 Annual Report , and I ask: (a) in the future, can the statistical information provided in the Western Australian Country Health Services annual report be provided by region, as the information in its current form is of little value; (b) the report states that the percentage of contacts with community based public mental health non-admitted services within seven days post discharge from public mental health inpatient units was 55.8 per cent, falling well short of the target of 75 per cent, what was the reason for falling so short of the target; (c) the report states the percentage of contacts with community based public mental health non-admitted services within seven days prior to admission to a public mental health inpatient unit was 43 per cent, well short of the 2013-14 target of 70 per cent, what is the reason for falling so short of the target; and (d) is community-based mental health failing to meet community demand, or failing to reach those in need?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 November 2014
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
(a) Statistical information is not able to be reported at a regional level in the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Annual Report. Disaggregating the data could yield statistically disproportionate and small population numbers, especially where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are reported by age cohorts and Aboriginality, which would not allow meaningful comparison across regions and could potentially identify individuals.
(b-c) The targets of (b) 75 per cent and (c) 70 per cent are based on national definitions with the ACT being the only jurisdiction able to achieve these targets.
These KPIs are restricted to reporting only people followed up by public mental health services. They do not account for people followed up by non-state/territory community based providers, such as General Practitioners (GPs), private psychiatrists, and other non-government and private community mental health services. Contacts that occur on the day of admission or discharge or where a person does not participate are also excluded.
WACHS Mental Health Inpatient Units have improved their processes to record the follow up of discharged patients within seven days, which is already showing an increase from 55.8 per cent to 59 per cent.
(d) WACHS community based mental health services have systems in place to respond to community demand. Referrals are triaged and prioritised and urgent referrals are responded to in a timely manner. Community based mental health services are well networked with other service providers such as GPs, non-government and private providers to ensure people in need are cared for appropriately, safely and efficiently.
(b-c) The targets of (b) 75 per cent and (c) 70 per cent are based on national definitions with the ACT being the only jurisdiction able to achieve these targets.
These KPIs are restricted to reporting only people followed up by public mental health services. They do not account for people followed up by non-state/territory community based providers, such as General Practitioners (GPs), private psychiatrists, and other non-government and private community mental health services. Contacts that occur on the day of admission or discharge or where a person does not participate are also excluded.
WACHS Mental Health Inpatient Units have improved their processes to record the follow up of discharged patients within seven days, which is already showing an increase from 55.8 per cent to 59 per cent.
(d) WACHS community based mental health services have systems in place to respond to community demand. Referrals are triaged and prioritised and urgent referrals are responded to in a timely manner. Community based mental health services are well networked with other service providers such as GPs, non-government and private providers to ensure people in need are cared for appropriately, safely and efficiently.
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