Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services, Mount Gambier

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:58): I thank the minister for his answer. Does the minister believe it is acceptable that people with drug and alcohol dependence and compounding mental health problems are being turned away from designated mental health beds in Mount Gambier?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:58): If the honourable member is suggesting that people's level of mental health acuity might be such that they might be admitted but they are not being admitted if they have a comorbid alcohol or drug issue that would surprise me, but I will certainly look into that. The decision about whether a particular patient is admitted to an inpatient unit is a matter for clinicians, not a matter for me as minister. I have visited the mental health facility at Mount Gambier and, of course, not every person who seeks admission to a mental health inpatient facility will have the clinicians agree with them on that wish. We have community teams as well as inpatient teams. Emergency departments and clinicians within the inpatient units have to make the best judgement as to where the support can be best delivered.