Tasmania’s Health Minister Michael Ferguson says he has not yet done enough to address claims the state’s adolescent mental health system is chronically underfunded.
A group of Tasmanian health workers taking industrial action claimed a nine-year-old had been waiting more than a year to receive treatment for anxiety.
Workers at the Hobart-based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service said they had been underfunded by successive governments for years.
Health union delegate and social worker Ben McGregor said delays due to inadequate staff numbers were making mental health problems worse.
“Usually when someone gets referred to us their presentation is acute, so [their condition] has only been around for maybe a few weeks, a few months,” he said.
“The longer that they wait on a list, the longer their difficulties go on.
“They turn from an acute presentation to a chronic presentation.
“And we know that if we don’t get things in a timely manner that the issues actually grow and become worse.”
Mr Ferguson said he had unlocked funding for one additional worker at the service but conceded he needed to do more.
He said the State Government’s green paper process on reforming the health system would chart a way forward.
“When I hear stories about nine-year-olds waiting more than one year, my heart bleeds,” he said.
“And we want to do something about it.
“We have done something about it. It’s not enough, and we’re keeping our eye on this issue.”