❓ Mr Kirkup questions the Minister for Health on whether increased mental health presentations due to COVID-19 are a major cause of ambulance ramping. The Minister acknowledges an increase in mental health attendances and highlights government investment in mental health observation areas.
AnsweredQoN 719Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AMBULANCE RAMPING
719. Mr
Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the minister confirm that a major contributing cause of ambulance ramping at
our state's emergency departments has been the level of mental health
presentations that is occurring from a silent mental health epidemic that has
plagued us since the advent of COVID-19?
719. Mr
Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the minister confirm that a major contributing cause of ambulance ramping at
our state's emergency departments has been the level of mental health
presentations that is occurring from a silent mental health epidemic that has
plagued us since the advent of COVID-19?
AnswerView source ↗
On
18 September, there were 147 metropolitan hospital attendances related to
mental health. This was 32 attendances higher than the same day in 2019,
or 22 per cent. Overall, metropolitan mental health attendances have been
higher in the last two weeks by about nine
mental health attendances per day, when compared with the same period in 2019 .
That is one of the reasons we are investing so strongly in mental health
observation areas, which we have put in at Royal
Perth Hospital. They have also been installed at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
and Joondalup Health Campus . The complexity of those patients is
increasing. We will continue to make these investments. Our EDs are doing an
amazing job with patients presenting with some very complex and difficult
issues. We need a government that is willing to invest and ensure that our
hospitals are able to meet this demand. Thank goodness we have a McGowan Labor
government.
18 September, there were 147 metropolitan hospital attendances related to
mental health. This was 32 attendances higher than the same day in 2019,
or 22 per cent. Overall, metropolitan mental health attendances have been
higher in the last two weeks by about nine
mental health attendances per day, when compared with the same period in 2019 .
That is one of the reasons we are investing so strongly in mental health
observation areas, which we have put in at Royal
Perth Hospital. They have also been installed at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
and Joondalup Health Campus . The complexity of those patients is
increasing. We will continue to make these investments. Our EDs are doing an
amazing job with patients presenting with some very complex and difficult
issues. We need a government that is willing to invest and ensure that our
hospitals are able to meet this demand. Thank goodness we have a McGowan Labor
government.
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