News from Mental Health Coordinating Council

MHCC News Aug 05: 

Auditor General's Report into Emergency Mental Health Services

Jenna Bateman

Released May 26, 2005 this report examines provision of emergency mental health services and makes recommendations on areas for improvement. In 2003­-04 there were 24,000 acute admissions representing an 11 % increase over the last three years. The report details current problems with access to acute care services particularly after hours; long waiting times in emergency departments for assessment and treatment; poor and inconsistent quality of Area Health call centres and an acute bed rate of 22 per 100,000 which falls below the target of 31 per 100,000. Criticism was also made that distribution of the acute services was inequitable across the state.