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❓ This parliamentary question seeks data on the length of stay for older adults transferred from regional WA to Perth mental health units and whether waitlists impacted admissions in 2023-24. The answer provides the average length of stay and confirms no waitlists were in place.

AnsweredQoN 287Legislative Council

Asked

17 June 2025

Member

Hon Michelle Boylan

Portfolio

Health; Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the reliance on Perth-based care for the treatment of adult mental health patients from the regions, and I ask: (a) in 2023-24, what was the average length of stay from older adults transferred from regional Western Australia to metropolitan Older Adult Mental Health units; and (b) in reference to (a), were any of the transferred patients placed on a waitlist due to lack of immediate inpatient capacity?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

12 August 2025

Responded by

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health; Mental Health

Response time

6 days

(a) In 2023-24, the average length of stay for separations of patients aged 65+ from metropolitan older adult mental health wards who were transferred from WACHS hospitals or presented to a WACHS emergency department on the same day or the day prior to admission to a metropolitan hospital, was 52 days.
Patients that are transferred to metropolitan sites often have complex issues and comorbidities, so often have a longer length of stay than patients that are able to remain regionally.
(b) No.

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