A NEW report has uncovered country hospitals in Western Australia saw almost 10 per cent of mental health patients unexpectedly return to them within a month of being discharged last year.
The 2014-15 WA Country Health Service annual report revealed the number of mental health patients having unplanned readmissions to hospital within 28 days of being discharged with the same condition is double the state government’s target.
The report said the target of 4.8 per cent was based on the best result achieved in the previous five years with “relatively small changes in population numbers, resulting in a higher percentage of unplanned readmissions”.
Mental Health minister Helen Morton said country patients and population numbers were relatively small, therefore small changes in activity had a disproportionate influence on the overall performance picture.
“In the country patients are often readmitted into the authorised facilities due to limited alternative mental health support services,” she said.
“The government is developing a number of sub-acute treatment facilities in regional areas that will enable ongoing treatment without readmission to hospital.”
South West MLC Adele Farina said the number of unplanned readmissions for mental health patients in country areas had been increasing since 2010.
“To suggest the increase in the rate of re-admittance of mental health patients is due to population growth is nonsense,” she said.
“The increase is more likely to be due to failed discharges where patients were released too soon or the necessary community support was not put in place.”
Mrs Morton said the situation was constantly being monitored to ensure sound discharge and admission planning occurs to ensure the best options for patients.
“WA Country Health Service continues to work with the Mental Health Commission to develop a range of community and hospital-based treatment and support options,” she said.
The report states 70 WA Country Health Service hospitals provide health care for more than 542,000 people across a 2.5 million square kilometre area last year with a total cost of $8 billion.
Included in this was the new $120.4 million Busselton Health Campus which the report says delivers a wide range of acute and community health services including increased hospital bed capacity.
The annual report coincides with Mental Health Week which runs from October 2 to 10 with more than 50 events and activities which promote the Act-Belong-Commit message.
Mrs Morton said she encouraged people to get along to the events to meet the many public and community-based services ready to provide support.
“Being active, having a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose in life all contribute to happiness and good mental health,” she said.
For more information about Mental Health Week visit mhw.waamh.org.au
