❓ Hon Adele Farina asks about the availability of involuntary mental health beds in Albany. The Minister responds, outlining the situation and expected timeline for re-establishment of these services.
AnsweredQoN 332Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH — ALBANY —
INVOLUNTARY PATIENTS
332. Hon ADELE
FARINA to the Minister for Mental Health:
(1) Does
Albany currently have any beds for involuntary patients in an authorised
hospital and, if so, how many and at which facility?
(2) If not, how long has Albany been without these beds for
involuntary patients?
(3) Why are they not available?
(4) What other services in the region are available for
involuntary patients?
(5) When will services for involuntary patients in Albany be
available?
INVOLUNTARY PATIENTS
332. Hon ADELE
FARINA to the Minister for Mental Health:
(1) Does
Albany currently have any beds for involuntary patients in an authorised
hospital and, if so, how many and at which facility?
(2) If not, how long has Albany been without these beds for
involuntary patients?
(3) Why are they not available?
(4) What other services in the region are available for
involuntary patients?
(5) When will services for involuntary patients in Albany be
available?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3)
Of the 16 mental health beds at Albany hospital, four are allocated for
involuntary patients. In order to accept involuntary patients, authorisation is
required by the Department of Health Chief Psychiatrist. The final inspection
was conducted today and I am advised the Chief Psychiatrist will be notifying
me this week that the unit meets the 2007 authorisation standards as
interpreted by the Chief Psychiatrist and should proceed to authorisation.
The Albany mental health inpatient
ward transferred from the old hospital to the new hospital on 15 May 2013.
Although 12 beds are available for voluntary patients, involuntary beds have
not been available since 15 May 2013. Patients deemed to require involuntary
inpatient care are provided assertive treatment by specialist mental health
clinicians, and that minimises the need for transfer to an authorised facility.
(4) There are
no other facilities to accept involuntary patients in the great southern
region. However, authorised facilities are available in Bunbury and Perth.
(5) It is
expected that the services will be up and running within the next month. That
process, of course, has to go through government gazettal.
(1)–(3)
Of the 16 mental health beds at Albany hospital, four are allocated for
involuntary patients. In order to accept involuntary patients, authorisation is
required by the Department of Health Chief Psychiatrist. The final inspection
was conducted today and I am advised the Chief Psychiatrist will be notifying
me this week that the unit meets the 2007 authorisation standards as
interpreted by the Chief Psychiatrist and should proceed to authorisation.
The Albany mental health inpatient
ward transferred from the old hospital to the new hospital on 15 May 2013.
Although 12 beds are available for voluntary patients, involuntary beds have
not been available since 15 May 2013. Patients deemed to require involuntary
inpatient care are provided assertive treatment by specialist mental health
clinicians, and that minimises the need for transfer to an authorised facility.
(4) There are
no other facilities to accept involuntary patients in the great southern
region. However, authorised facilities are available in Bunbury and Perth.
(5) It is
expected that the services will be up and running within the next month. That
process, of course, has to go through government gazettal.
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