Page 4905 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019

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Mr Rattenbury: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) 115.

(2) (a) 2014-15 was 108.

(b) 2015-16 was 61 - a decrease of 44 per cent on previous year.

(d) 2017-18 was 57 - an increase of 111 per cent on previous year.

(3) Between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 there have been 4,670 patients presenting to Canberra Health Services (CHS) Emergency Department (ED) with a mental health type presentation. This represents an increase by 137 per cent since 2014-15.

All patients are risk assessed and admitted to the most appropriate inpatient unit for care.

It is usual practice to support extended assessment outside of an inpatient unit, in an appropriate assessment area such as the ED, where there is an expectation that following this assessment the person is likely to be able to be safely discharged home, often with community supports. However, there are occasions where despite attempts to avoid admission in this way, people remain unwell enough to require a period of care within the Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU).

Canberra Hospital ED is the only gazetted ED in the ACT and therefore must accept and assess all consumers who present to the ED under the Mental Health Act 2015 either under an Emergency Action (EA) or a S309 referred from the Courts.

The location of the AMHU means transport needs to be arranged to safely transfer patients from the main hospital to AMHU. This is by a car, or via an ambulance transfer if the person has been sedated. Ambulance transfers can contribute to the delay in timely transfer of patients.

(4) The project to address ligature risks in AMHU at Canberra Hospital started in January 2018 with early investigative works to inform the methods to be used to address identified ligature risk. Thereafter the project is being delivered over three phases. On-site works for Phase 1 commenced in April 2018 and involved the removal of 40 ensuite doors within AMHU. Phase 1 and 2 works, which mainly addressed bedroom ensuite risks, have been completed.

(5) On-site works have now progressed to the final phase (Phase 3). Phase 3 works address remaining bedroom door risks and security system upgrades. Phase 3 works commenced in July 2019 and are scheduled to be completed in AMHU by the end of November 2019.

(6) To minimise the impact on the mental health service and consumers that would otherwise occupy the bedrooms that are impacted by the works, four rooms in administration areas of AMHU have been converted to temporary single bedrooms to allow the works to proceed without delay, and in a safe environment for consumers, staff and contractors. However, even with these additional four temporary bedrooms, bed capacity may be reduced by up to four beds due to clinical operational requirements.

(7) No.

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