❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses potential budget cuts to Fremantle Mental Health Services, referencing a leaked memorandum and media statements. The Minister denies further cuts beyond the efficiency dividend and assures no compromise to frontline services.
AnsweredQoN 1023Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES — BUDGET CUTS
I refer to media statements made by the Minister for Mental Health on Wednesday, 14 October. (1) Has the minister now seen the recently leaked memorandum from Fremantle Hospital and Health Service of 21 September 2009 entitled “Re: Potential Savings” and the related document entitled “Fremantle Mental Health Services Proposed Budget & FTE Savings”? (2) If yes to (1), which parts, if any, of these documents are not accurate? (3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to media statements made by the Minister for Mental Health on Wednesday, 14 October. (1) Has the minister now seen the recently leaked memorandum from Fremantle Hospital and Health Service of 21 September 2009 entitled “Re: Potential Savings” and the related document entitled “Fremantle Mental Health Services Proposed Budget & FTE Savings”? (2) If yes to (1), which parts, if any, of these documents are not accurate? (3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(1) Has the minister now seen the recently leaked memorandum from Fremantle Hospital and Health Service of 21 September 2009 entitled “Re: Potential Savings” and the related document entitled “Fremantle Mental Health Services Proposed Budget & FTE Savings”? (2) If yes to (1), which parts, if any, of these documents are not accurate? (3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(2) If yes to (1), which parts, if any, of these documents are not accurate? (3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(5) Not applicable.
(1) Has the minister now seen the recently leaked memorandum from Fremantle Hospital and Health Service of 21 September 2009 entitled “Re: Potential Savings” and the related document entitled “Fremantle Mental Health Services Proposed Budget & FTE Savings”? (2) If yes to (1), which parts, if any, of these documents are not accurate? (3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(2) If yes to (1), which parts, if any, of these documents are not accurate? (3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(3) If no to (1), does the minister accept that he needs to seek out the relevant information before making media denials about this vital aspect of his portfolio? (4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(4) Have mental health services been asked to make any further cuts to their budget beyond the three per cent so-called efficiency dividend? (5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(5) If yes to (4), how much have they been asked to cut? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(1) Yes. (2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(2) Mental health services are required to operate within their budget allocation and are currently working to ensure that this is achieved in 2009-10 without compromising any front-line services. All health services, including mental health services at Fremantle, have been required to propose strategies to ensure that this occurs. No directive has been given to cut front-line services. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(4) No. Mental health services, along with all other health services, have been instructed to work within their 2009-10 budget allocation. They have not been asked to make any further cuts to their budget. (5) Not applicable.
(5) Not applicable.
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