Question Time

Mental Health Services

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:26): I seek leave to make an explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Health and Substance Abuse on the subject of mental health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: On 2 November, the Principal Community Visitor's 2016 annual report in relation to mental health services was tabled. In the report, the Principal Community Visitor advises the minister of his concern that the government's strategy to reduce the time mental health patients wait in emergency departments for an inpatient bed has created some serious 'downstream problems' and ultimately a 'revolving door' situation for people with acute mental health conditions. The Principal Community Visitor writes:

One of the most disturbing issues raised with the CVs was where at The QEH adult mental health unit, Cramond Ward, they had $1,000 fines imposed on them by the department as they did not free up a bed by discharging patients when there were patients in The QEH ED needing a bed and at risk of breaching the 24-hour target.

This matter was reported to both the Chief Psychiatrist and the deputy chief executive by the PCV, expressing concerns about the added pressure this places on clinicians, adding that it was 'difficult to see how this improved clinical practice, and the severe fines imposed simply takes more resources out of the unit'.

My questions to the minister are:

1. What action has he taken in response to this concern being raised with him?

2. Did the then Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Aaron Groves, raise this concern with the minister in his 2016-17 report?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:27): Let me thank the honourable member for her question and let me also thank Mr Corcoran for the development of his report. I had the opportunity to meet with him earlier this week. I think it was earlier this week. He is doing an outstanding job in his role. It is an important role and we welcome the contribution that he makes.

Improving access to mental health services and reducing waiting times in emergency departments for people with a mental illness of course remains a priority for the state government. As minister, I am obviously committed to ensuring that no mental health patients wait more than 24 hours in an emergency department.

Since late 2014, the average waiting time in our mental health emergency departments has more than halved, I am advised. We have seen some drastic improvements, and I expect these good results to continue, because it is an important community service for those people who need access to emergency departments.

In 2015, mental health emergency department targets were developed in consultation with clinicians. These include, from 1 January last year, that mental health consumers should not routinely wait more than 24 hours in an emergency department, and that by July 2018 we aim for 90 per cent of mental health consumers not waiting more than eight hours in an emergency department and 75 per cent not waiting more than four hours.

Since the announcement of these targets, there has been an improvement across emergency departments, with the average waiting time reducing from 18.5 hours in October 2014 to 8.4 hours in September 2017, I am advised. I am also advised that the percentage of the patients waiting in emergency departments for more than 24 hours improved from 20 per cent in October 2014 to 2.3 per cent in September 2017.

These are important metrics. They make a real difference, if they are realised, for the benefit of mental health patients. We continue to strive to do better. We look forward to continuing to work with the statutory officer in terms of the Principal Community Visitor, Mr Corcoran, to achieve those targets. They remain an important organisation to keep us on our toes.