A backlog of mentally ill patients waiting for beds in two of Perth’s busiest emergency departments is due to “the most complex” mental health case Mental Health Minister Helen Morton says she has ever seen.
A six-bed ward at Graylands Hospital has been shut down to accommodate a young female patient, who is understood to be under severe mental stress.
Helen Morton said that has had a knock-on effect on emergency departments in other Perth hospitals, which rely on Graylands for involuntary mental health beds.
She said up to 20 patients detained under the Mental Health Act have been waiting in Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner hospital every day for a bed for the past week or so.
“We have an obligation to care for everyone no matter how difficult or how complex, and to be honest this is completely off the scale,” Ms Morton said.
“It’s the most difficult and complex case I’ve ever come across in my entire career working in mental health, managing mental health services and as a minister.”
She denied the backlog problem had been triggered by a lack of funding to the mental health sector.
“This is not about money or resources or capacity in the system, it is about managing an extremely difficult and complex case with great care and concern for the patient and staff,” she said.
“I certainly understand the knock-on effect that it’s having on emergency departments at Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner, because they are very dependant on Graylands because they do not have authorised beds in their own right.
“Multiple agencies are working together to find the best solution for this patient and for those who provide the care, support and treatment for her.
“I’m assured that the situation will be stabilised in a reasonable timeframe, but in the meantime there will be this knock-on effect to the emergency departments at Royal Perth and Charlies, I understand that.”
The minister said she hoped the situation will be eased by a new 30-bed mental health unit at Sir Charles Gairdner, set to open on August 20.