❓ Mr. Board questions the Minister for Health about the Reid report's findings on increasing mental health service demands and bed shortages, pressing for a budget increase. The Minister acknowledges the issue, corrects previous bed number discrepancies, and outlines plans for community health investment and additional secure beds.
AnsweredQoN 132Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Reid report that was tabled in the House yesterday. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members. Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members. Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
The SPEAKER: Order, members. Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
(1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
(2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
(1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
[See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members. Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
The SPEAKER: Order, members. Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr C.J. Barnett: You love it too, don’t you? Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. BOARD: There is a lot in there that we published last September, and the minister knows that. The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
The SPEAKER: Members, it is disorderly not only when answers are interrupted but also when questions cannot be asked. I urge members on my right to allow the question to be asked. Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. BOARD: I refer the minister to the Reid report and, in particular, Professor Reid’s explanation in the report that one of the greatest demands for services at present is mental health. The minister is aware that, according to the report, without major reform, the demand for mental health beds is expected to increase by 315 in the next decade. (1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
(1) Is the minister aware that this will effectively wipe out the additional beds the Government claims it will open in the next decade? (2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
(2) Will the minister now heed the calls from the Liberal Opposition and former Labor health minister Keith Wilson to increase the mental health budget to 10 per cent of the total health budget? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
I thank the member for Murdoch for the question. (1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
(1)-(2) There were a couple of themes running through the Reid report, one of which was that the Government would reverse the trend in the reduction in the number of general beds in hospitals that had been occurring over the past 15 years. Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: We have to come clean on that. That is the next question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will clarify that right from the start. Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: We are going to ask that question. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will do that now since the member has asked. Yesterday I was asked a question about the number of beds. As I entered the Chamber, I was provided with a table setting out the number of beds available as at different dates from 1990 to 2004. Although the document I tabled fully spelt out the situation, my addressing it did not. Therefore, I would like to table a document setting out the number of metropolitan public hospital overnight beds, which shows that during the 1990s, when the previous Government was in power, there was a reduction of 320 beds in the public hospital system in the metropolitan area. Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: Why were the figures fudged yesterday? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Simply because the way in which the Department of Health prepared the table did not provide the exact figures for the private hospitals that were not in its domain, so the information it gave me had the words “not available” under that heading. I asked the department to provide those figures and I table a copy of that document. [See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
[See paper No 2238.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Having corrected that matter, I will move on. The themes running through the Reid report were a great emphasis on community health. An amount of $85 million has been earmarked by Professor Reid to be spent, most of which will be spent in the mental health area and most of which is designed to upgrade community facilities to keep people out of hospital. As a result of the implementation of the Reid recommendations, we hope that the demand for hospital beds will abate and, therefore, we will not need such a dramatic increase in the number of beds, although we are providing for an increase of some 400 beds over the next period. However, if that is not adequate, we will need to adjust that number to ensure that the demand is met. Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mental health experts have told me that there are two problems in the mental health area. The first is the absence of community facilities, and the Reid report addresses that directly. The second problem is the absence of secure mental health beds for the most acutely ill mental health patients; that is, the need to accommodate them in locked wards. That has been a chronic problem up until the announcement a few weeks ago that 34 more locked beds would be provided within the government health system to address that most pressing of needs for the most acutely ill mental health patients. That will be done during this year, so we are meeting that particular problem now. Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr M.F. Board: What about the budget? Will we see the budget increase substantially? Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: Yes. Members opposite will see a very significant increase over the years ahead - it will be in the forward estimates - in the amount of money allocated to mental health. The $85 million that Professor Reid indicated needs to be put into community health will in fact go to community mental health, which is one of the most pressing and growing areas of need.
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