❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding unopened mental health beds at Fiona Stanley Hospital and the cost of relocating the Mental Health Commission. The Minister defends the relocation costs and emphasizes that treatment is not solely dependent on beds.
AnsweredQoN 258Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL
HEALTH COMMISSION — RELOCATION
258. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to reports that the Minister for Mental Health said
that the unopened mental health beds at Fiona Stanley Hospital are not
required, despite numerous cases of mental health bed shortages.
(1) Is the
minister honestly telling those people struggling to be admitted to a mental
health bed that those beds are not required at the moment?
(2) How can
mental health services reach their purchased activity level while still leaving
six beds unopened, yet spend at the same time almost $7 million relocating
offices and $1.85 million a year in rent?
HEALTH COMMISSION — RELOCATION
258. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to reports that the Minister for Mental Health said
that the unopened mental health beds at Fiona Stanley Hospital are not
required, despite numerous cases of mental health bed shortages.
(1) Is the
minister honestly telling those people struggling to be admitted to a mental
health bed that those beds are not required at the moment?
(2) How can
mental health services reach their purchased activity level while still leaving
six beds unopened, yet spend at the same time almost $7 million relocating
offices and $1.85 million a year in rent?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I am very surprised that my first question about mental health is about chairs
and things like that. The first mention on the radio this morning was about
chairs, which is quite absorbing, but members opposite are talking about —
Several members interjected.
Mrs L.M. Harvey :
Stop bullying her.
Ms A.R. MITCHELL :
It is all right. I am delighted to answer this question, because once again we
understand that relocation includes fit-out, and that is what the question was
about. On the relocation, after a little bit of further investigation—I
said on radio this morning that I would be investigating the chairs—the
Mental Health Commission has come back with some very good information that I know
the public will be very, very pleased about. In the great negotiation for its
lease for this facility, it included the fit-out within that, so the total cost
to the public for the relocation of the Mental Health Commission and the other
parts was $300 000. It did not pay for a chair at all; it was all in the
fit-out. Members will find that their information is not correct. The lease
negotiations undertaken by the Mental Health Commission mean that it has
secured these premises with a cost to the government of $300 000. The chairs
were paid through the lease negotiations. Now, let us get on to the next part about treatment services for people with
facilities. At the moment, people think about beds, but we buy activity and
activity requirements are being met. Beds do not necessarily mean treatment.
They are part of it, but we buy activity and activity is treatment, and the
treatment services are being met. The perception that someone has to be in a bed
to be treated is not accurate and we need to make sure that we understand that
difference. Yes, there is a need
for some beds—absolutely. T here
is and there will be. But at the moment we are managing the requirements for activity and the treatment of
people in mental health services.
I am very surprised that my first question about mental health is about chairs
and things like that. The first mention on the radio this morning was about
chairs, which is quite absorbing, but members opposite are talking about —
Several members interjected.
Mrs L.M. Harvey :
Stop bullying her.
Ms A.R. MITCHELL :
It is all right. I am delighted to answer this question, because once again we
understand that relocation includes fit-out, and that is what the question was
about. On the relocation, after a little bit of further investigation—I
said on radio this morning that I would be investigating the chairs—the
Mental Health Commission has come back with some very good information that I know
the public will be very, very pleased about. In the great negotiation for its
lease for this facility, it included the fit-out within that, so the total cost
to the public for the relocation of the Mental Health Commission and the other
parts was $300 000. It did not pay for a chair at all; it was all in the
fit-out. Members will find that their information is not correct. The lease
negotiations undertaken by the Mental Health Commission mean that it has
secured these premises with a cost to the government of $300 000. The chairs
were paid through the lease negotiations. Now, let us get on to the next part about treatment services for people with
facilities. At the moment, people think about beds, but we buy activity and
activity requirements are being met. Beds do not necessarily mean treatment.
They are part of it, but we buy activity and activity is treatment, and the
treatment services are being met. The perception that someone has to be in a bed
to be treated is not accurate and we need to make sure that we understand that
difference. Yes, there is a need
for some beds—absolutely. T here
is and there will be. But at the moment we are managing the requirements for activity and the treatment of
people in mental health services.
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