Page 4533 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 26 November 2019
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for women and children, underpinned by our significant investment in digital solutions and state-of-the-art technology, this government is continuing to build a territory-wide health system for the future.
I present a copy of the following paper:
Health infrastructure planning—Response to Assembly resolutions of 5 June and 18 September 2019, Select Committee on Estimates 2017-2018 Report—Recommendation 65, and Select Committee on Estimates 2019-2020 Report—Recommendations 82 and 87—Ministerial statement, 26 November 2019.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mr Wall) adjourned to the next sitting.
Mental health—patient data
Ministerial statement
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (11.08): I rise to address concerns that have been raised by members of the Assembly around the time it takes a mental health consumer to be admitted into a dedicated mental healthcare location. I would like to address these concerns by explaining the mental health services provided in the ACT and what the data is showing us.
Mental health, justice health and alcohol and drug services of Canberra Health Services are responsible for a number of mental health facilities across the ACT, including inpatient units at the adult mental health unit, the mental health short stay unit, the adult mental health rehabilitation unit at the University of Canberra Hospital, Dhulwa secure mental health unit, and the extended care unit at the site of the Brian Hennessy Rehabilitation Centre. There are also two inpatient units at the Calvary Public Hospital Bruce campus for acute low-dependency adults and older persons.
In recognition of the fact that a hospital admission is not always the best approach for people with mental health issues, the government also funds a broad range of community-based services, including community-based support programs, step-up step-down units and supported accommodation.
The Canberra Hospital emergency department is the only gazetted emergency department in the ACT and, as such, receives all police and ambulance transfers brought in for a mental health emergency assessment. Under the Mental Health Act 2015 this assessment must be done within four hours of presentation.
When a patient presents to the emergency department, whether it be under the Mental Health Act or coming in of their own volition, it can take time to assess their physical
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