Whyalla Mental Health Unit

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister inform the house about the new mental health facilities at the Whyalla Hospital?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:50): I can indeed, and I thank the member for Giles for his question. I am pleased to inform the house that in late April the new mental health inpatient unit did open in Whyalla. It is the first of its kind in country South Australia, with similar units to open in Berri later this year, as well as Mount Gambier next year. The six-bed unit in Whyalla has marked the start of a new era in mental health care for country South Australians, as now for the first time regional patients will have access to acute inpatient mental health care close to their homes.

Patients who come to the acute inpatient mental health unit will receive care from a mental health team of psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists and other support workers. When they leave the unit, they will continue to be supported by our community mental health team. Being treated close to home and to their support networks will mean that patients will be able to recover more quickly and, importantly, stay well once they leave the unit.

The new mental health inpatient unit at Whyalla has been designed with country people in mind, with large indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as a high level of privacy, with individual bedrooms and ensuites. While I am aware that some patients will still need care in a metropolitan inpatient setting due to their specific needs, this unit is a fantastic step forward for country mental health services and will complement the wide range of mental health support already available in the region.

Bringing in mental health inpatient units in country South Australia was identified as part of the Stepping Up: A Social Inclusion Action Plan for Mental Health Reform 2007-12 report. The state government has budgeted almost $2.8 million to improve South Australia's country mental health services and infrastructure. As well as the unit in Whyalla and the unit being built in the Riverland, the government is also providing better services in our regions, including building on the community intermediate care services in Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island and improving clinical services from eight nurse practitioner/nurse practitioner candidates across the state. We are also improving access and timely clinical assessment of patients without the need for transfer to Adelaide through the use of the South Australian Digital Telehealth Network.

Can I conclude by extending my thanks to all those doctors, nurses and other medical staff who do some brilliant work in regional mental health. We as a government can improve the infrastructure, but it is those people on the ground who will ensure we have the best outcomes for our regional mental health patients.