Page 2848 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014

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MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Higher Education and Minister for Regional Development) (4.42): I welcome the opportunity of speaking to Mrs Jones’s motion today and indicate that we will be supporting the motion, with the amendment I shall move and which has been circulated.

Opposition members interjecting—

MS GALLAGHER: I move the amendment that has been circulated in my name:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) the Government’s commitment to mental health services and infrastructure;

(b) that the Adult Mental Health Unit at The Canberra Hospital, which opened in 2012, provides inpatient services for Canberra residents with acute mental illness;

(c) that the Adult Mental Health Unit includes a high dependency wing; low dependency beds; a central socialisation, living and dining space; a therapies wing; and support areas for treatment, assessment, staff, visitors and reception, and was designed following extensive consultation and extensive input from consumer, carer groups and staff, on both the design of the building and the model of care;

(d) that the safety of staff, patients and visitors is of paramount importance to the Government and active measures are being taken by ACT Health to ensure staff and patient safety is not compromised at the Adult Mental Health Unit;

(e) that a Provisional Improvement Notice was issued in July 2014 and work to address this notice is substantially complete;

(f) that ACT Health is undertaking a post occupancy evaluation of the Adult Mental Health Unit;

(g) that, following this evaluation, an action plan will be finalised collaboratively with staff to address any issues that may be identified; and

(h) that the Government is continuing to deliver an enhanced network of mental health facilities and services through:

(i) forthcoming amendments to the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act;

(ii) the construction of the Secure Mental Health Unit; and

(iii) enhanced community mental health services; and

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