Mental Health Services

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (15:13): A supplementary: can the minister advise if mental health services like Diamond House and Catherine House help keep patients with mental health issues out of hospital?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:13): My understanding is that Diamond House Clubhouse relates to people with psychosocial disability. I am not aware of them having any role in relation to forensic mental health services but, considering I have visited them a number of times, I would be happy to get further information on that.

The mental health network of services needs to be balanced, and I think one thing that is increasingly stark is that in the latter years of the former Labor government the forensic mental health provision was neglected, and that had a significant impact on patient flow. That would certainly have affected clients of Diamond House Clubhouse because if they were needing emergency mental health care, or other care for that matter, they, like other South Australians, would have found an emergency department that's not operating optimally when people are not there because of emergency department services but because they can't take the next step on the journey.

So, of the range of cohorts of mental health patients requiring inpatient services, the forensic mental health services was an area of particular concern and problematic. It was specifically raised with me in the discussions with employee organisations at the end of last year. It was raised with me by the Chief Psychiatrist and a number of other people. This government is proud that we have delivered on an investment in an additional 10 forensic mental health beds.