Page 4679 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

MINISTER FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 192

Mental Health Crisis Service

MR BERRY-- asked the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts on notice on 7 June 1990:

In relation to the proposed new 24 hour mental health crisis centre for the ACT (a) where will it be; (b) how many staff will there be; (c) what is the projected capital cost, if any; (d) what is the expected recurrent expenditure for the proposal; and (e) what will the impact of this be on the Governments hospital redevelopment proposal.

MR HUMPHRIES - the answer to Mr Berrys question is:

(a) The Mental Health Crisis Service will be based at Royal Canberra Hospital South in the Accident and Emergency Department.

(b) Initially, there will be one nurse on duty on all

after hours shifts, requiring 3.6 full time equivalent

staff. There will also be additional call out assistance

if home visiting is required and this will be provided from

a pool of staff available for a second on-call roster.

The integration of day and after hours crisis care will occur as consultations with professional associations and unions allow.

(d) The expected recurrent expenditure is $280 000 full year effect.

(e) A purpose built psychiatry unit is being established at Royal Canberra Hospital South as part of the Governments hospitals redevelopment program. This unit will have an admissions centre which will replace the Accident and Emergency Department as the location for emergency assessment and care of the psychiatrically ill. The needs of the crisis service will be considered as part of the planning process for the psychiatry unit, as it is expected that the crisis service will be based and managed from this site.

4679

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .