EATING DISORDER UNIT

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question relating to eating disorders.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Today, a rally was held at the front of Parliament House, being the third rally against the government in three days. Today's rally was organised by people with eating disorders and their supporters to protest the closure of Ward 4G at the Flinders Medical Centre. The decision was made without consultation with consumers or clinicians.

Eating disorders can be very severe. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Eating disorders are particularly a women's issue: 90 per cent of sufferers are women and 23 per cent of young Australian women are reported to have had disordered eating in the past 12 months. I ask the minister:

1. Why does this government continue to make decisions affecting women without consulting them?

2. When will the ALP left stand up for women in need, not just women who want to serve on government boards?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for his question. This is a matter largely under the purview of the Minister for Health; however, having an interest in medical services—particularly services relating to women—I requested some information from the Minister for Health in relation to this question.

I have been advised that patients at the Flinders Medical Centre with eating disorders are currently in a ward—Ward 4G—with four other mental health beds. I actually visited this ward in my former role as minister for mental health, so I know the ward reasonably well. The eating disorder beds are in a ward with four other mental health beds that cater for a mix of patients with things like gambling problems, anxiety, and a wide range of general mental health issues—some of them quite severe, I have to say. I understand that the mixed ward environment is not the sort that is considered conducive to providing an optimal clinical and therapeutic recovery environment for eating disorders.

I have been advised that a project has commenced to develop a statewide model for the delivery of eating disorder services by SA Health here in South Australia. This is the first time that the development of a statewide model has been undertaken. SA Health has engaged an independent expert, Ms Deirdre Mulligan, to work with a local reference group consisting of clinicians, managers and stakeholders, including consumers and carers. I am advised that the first meeting of the group has already occurred.

The outcome of the project will be a statewide model for eating disorders, and it will be inclusive of all ages. It is likely that recommendations for bed-based and community-based services will be considered, not just acute services, and I think that is definitely a step in the right direction. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by early April 2011.

SA Health is committed to the provision of eating disorder services in South Australia, and there is no intention of reducing services to this consumer group. I emphasise that: there is no intention of reducing services to this consumer group. Services will continue to be provided for this group throughout the development of this statewide model, and Ward 4G will not be closed until the project is complete and the new service arrangements are in place. I will say that again, because obviously the honourable member opposite me does not 'get' this: Ward 4G will not be closed until the project is complete and new service arrangements are in place.

SA Health is very much attempting to improve the way it provides services to this particular group. The current arrangements are less than desirable. We believe we can do things better and we have put in place a plan to improve the way we provide services to those members of the community who are unfortunate enough to suffer from an eating disorder.