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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-31 Daily Xml
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Mental Health Services

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:52): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question about mental health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: The Minister for Health and Wellbeing recently referred to the state government having boosted funding for mental health by almost $20 million since the 2018 election, spending 10 per cent more on services than the national average. This is despite those on the frontline who couldn't disagree more. On Monday night, SASMOA reported there were 41 mental health patients waiting in metro EDs that night, indicating once again the system is failing some of our most vulnerable patients and our frontline health workers.

Now it appears the crisis has claimed a high-profile victim with the resignation of the executive director of mental health in CALHN, John Mendoza. While the department is claiming Mr Mendoza has resigned to be closer to his family in Queensland, I am advised that he resigned because his warnings were going unheeded because the bureaucrats weren't listening to him or, worse still, because he was pushed for making too many noises. My questions to the minister are:

1. Are you aware of Mr Mendoza's resignation and the reasons, both official and unofficial, that were provided for doing so?

2. Are you aware of communications Mr Mendoza made directly to SA Health CEO Chris McGowan, going over the head of his manager, CALHN CEO, Lesley Dwyer, warning of a litany of problems with CALHN's mental health jurisdiction, including the state of mental health patients in the ED?

3. Are you aware of Mr Mendoza's increasing frustration in getting senior SA Health bureaucrats to listen to the concerns he was raising?

4. When can we expect to see the release of Dr John Brayley's report on ramping and its impacts on mental health patients?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:54): It certainly has been the case that our hospitals have been experiencing an increase in clients with mental health issues. I have already advised the house that, in the period from February 2020 to February 2021, I am advised that there was a 13 per cent increase in mental health admissions to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

In that context, I have received more recent advice that, in more recent times, there has been an unusually high number of presentations at the RAH that include the use of methamphetamines. It is not unusual for the festival periods, both Fringe and general, to coincide with an increase in mental health related presentations, and my advice is that has again been the case this year. Also, there has been an increase in the number of forensic consumers.

In terms of the role of John Mendoza, certainly I have been advised that John Mendoza has decided to return to Queensland to be close to family, and I respect his decision. In terms of the release of Dr Brayley's report, that is completely a matter for Dr Brayley. My understanding is if it's not already on the SA Health website, it will be shortly.

The PRESIDENT: A supplementary, the Hon. Ms Bonaros.

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