Budget gap for health units
The State Government maintains it is on track to fulfil its promise to build a key subacute mental health facility in Kalgoorlie-Boulder by next year, despite the project being left out of the Budget.
Concerns have been raised by Goldfields MPs after $10.7 million was allocated for similar units in Karratha and Bunbury, but the Kalgoorlie project was left out of the forward estimates.
But responding to questions from the Kalgoorlie Miner yesterday, Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said planning for the site was "well under way".
"A site is currently being negotiated, with construction planned to start by the end of this year," Mrs Morton said.
"The State Government is committed to providing a subacute step-up, step-down facility for the Goldfields region, to be fully operational in 2016-17."
The $2.5 million previously set aside for the facility had been a notable absence from the past two State Budgets; however, Mrs Morton said the funding remained available.
"The service has recurrent operational funding as shown in the 2013-14 Budget," she said.
"Capital funds will be accessed within the existing Mental Health Commission budget."
Subacute units provide care for people suffering from mental illness who do not require inpatient care at a mental health facility.
They assist patients who no longer require in-patient care but need additional support as they return to the community, or those needing to manage a change in their mental health who do not warrant care at an acute facility.
In its 2012-13 Budget the Government allocated $2.52 million over two years for a subacute service in the Goldfields, while the following year's Budget claimed "work is progressing on the planning and development of subacute services in … the Goldfields".
The initial funding was removed from the 2014-15 Budget, however, prompting Kalgoorlie MLA Wendy Duncan to raise the matter with Mrs Morton.
Mrs Morton wrote to Ms Duncan in July 2014, saying options for the location of the six-bed facility were being considered and the Mental Health Commission "expects this service to be fully operational 2016-17 or sooner if possible".
But Labor MLC Stephen Dawson questioned whether Mrs Morton would be able to follow through on her commitment.
"I'm very sceptical of the minister's latest comments," he said yesterday.
"The Mental Health Commission has already had their funding cut, so I'm sceptical as to whether they can find millions of dollars to fund this promised service when there's no money in the Budget for it."
