Page 1627 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 July 2020
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MRS KIKKERT: Minister, what else can be done to address this problem, given that you have acknowledged many times in the past that seclusion is not a desirable treatment method for mental health patients?
MR RATTENBURY: As I indicated in my last answer, I have spoken with the chief psychiatrist about this. I have spoken with the director of mental health, justice health and alcohol and drug services. I have asked them to undertake further work on these matters, to consult with the oversight committee and to examine whether we need to make any changes in light of the circumstances we have seen, and to make sure that we have a deep understanding of why those numbers have changed.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, given that these figures are now 18 months old, why are you expressing surprise and concern at the figures, and why haven’t you already done considerable work to get to the bottom of why these figures have turned around?
MR RATTENBURY: Yet again I am being verballed. I am not expressing surprise. These are real numbers. I am expressing concern. These are numbers that are known. They have been known for a while. Work has been ongoing for some time to understand why those figures are the way they are.
Mental health—services
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, I am referring to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data released on 21 July. The data revealed that, for 2017-18, the ACT had the worst improvement outcomes in the nation for inpatient episodes of care. They also revealed that the ACT had the second worst rate in Australia of readmissions to care within 28 days of separation, and the average length of stay in acute inpatient mental health services was lower than the national average. Minister, is there a link between length of stay and patient outcomes and, if so, when will we finally see an improvement in the data that is released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare?
MR RATTENBURY: On Mr Parton’s actual question—which was: is there a link between length of stay and patient outcomes—I do not think one can draw a singular answer on that, given the breadth of cases. The best answer to that question is that people should stay as long as they clinically need to. That is the basis on which the decision should be taken and that is what staff strive for in mental health services.
MR PARTON: Minister, why do Canberra’s mental health patients have the worst outcomes in Australia after inpatient episodes of care, and when will we finally see an improvement in the data that is released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare?
MR RATTENBURY: In making efforts to improve the ACT’s mental health system, I think our staff already work extremely hard to get good outcomes. We are talking about people who come to our care in very difficult circumstances, and our staff do the best job that they can. There are clearly steps that we can take to further improve that service, and those service improvements are occurring. I point to a range of
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