Mental Health Services, Port Lincoln

38 The Hon. S.G. WADE ().6 July 2022).

1. When was the new Port Lincoln hospital mental health unit constructed?

2. What was the demand for mental health inpatient services at Port Lincoln at that time?

3. What is the current demand for mental health inpatient services in Port Lincoln?

4. Does the government consider that there is sufficient demand to open the Port Lincoln mental health unit?

5. What steps will the government take to recruit the mental health staff required to operate the Port Lincoln mental health unit at its capacity?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has advised:

Port Lincoln hosts a Community Mental Health Service, which operates from the Port Lincoln hospital site.

The hospital site was redeveloped and launched in November 2015. During the redevelopment, four rooms were constructed to mental health standards for future use.

There are no mental health inpatient beds currently designated at Port Lincoln hospital, nor were any operated during the past four years.

Patients under Involuntary Mental Health Orders have access to inpatient services at Whyalla Hospital and at Glenside in Adelaide, including an 18-bed ward and six-bed psychiatric intensive care unit.

However, patients can be voluntarily admitted to Port Lincoln Hospital for mental health assessment and care planning.

In 2017–2018, mental health overnight occupied beds stood at 289, which indicates a need for 0.9 actual mental health beds.

In 2021–2022, mental health overnight occupied beds stood at 356, which indicates a need for 0.95 actual mental health beds.