Kalgoorlie mental health care in good hands

Mental Health Minister Dr Graham Jacobs today praised the work of Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital's mental health unit.

The hospital's Mental Health Units Acute Psychiatric Unit has been operational for almost five years and has a capacity of seven acute beds and one seclusion bedroom.

Dr Jacobs visited the facility when Premier Colin Barnett and Health Minister Dr Kim Hames committed $55.8million to rebuild Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital.

"This mental health unit is a great example of what can be achieved if people are treated for their acute illness locally, removing the need to transfer patients to Graylands," he said.

Since the unit became operational, the number of cases requiring transportation to the city facility has fallen from 200 cases to seven in the last year, reducing the financial cost and resources of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The Minister committed to undertaking a review of an anti-smoking policy for new inpatients of the mental health unit.

"Staff put it to me that effective treatment programs of people with acute illnesses was hampered by putting these patients under further enormous strain by banning them from smoking as soon as they entered the unit," Dr Jacobs said.

"Programs to quit smoking need to be part of the patient's treatment plan but to be initiated when patients are motivated and in a productive mindset.

"We will need to work towards reviewing this policy as it makes treatment difficult."

The Minister said lowering the patients' stress levels was important to their treatment and being hospitalised locally and the possible easement of an immediate smoking ban went a long way towards aiding recovery.

These factors and providing a secure environment for patients would be placed on the agenda of the new Mental Health and Well Being commissioner, allowing for the same level of family support in country areas as applied in Perth.