Board set up to help Graylands Hospital address operational problems

28/7/95

A special advisory board has been appointed to help Graylands Hospital address a number of problems identified in a review of its operations.

Health Minister Graham Kierath said the board would be chaired by Dr Mike McCall and would work with the hospital's management to overcome problems, many of which were common to the entire mental health system.

The report from the Ramsay Health Care Group, released today by the Minister, examined the options for the future of the hospital and, as part of that evaluation, identified a number of problems.

"The advisory board will work with the management of Graylands, the Health Commissioner and the Mental Health Task Force to help fix those problems which can be remedied in the short term," Mr Kierath said.

"However, the problems facing Graylands must not be taken in isolation and it would be unfair to blame management and staff for situations over which they have little control.

"The report does not take into account a number of improvements which have been achieved and in reality the staff have done a good job to keep Graylands as a fully-functioning hospital throughout the psychiatric difficulties which are facing the State."

Mr Kierath said the other members of the advisory board would be Dr Hugh Cook, chairman of the Western Australian branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and Doreen McCarthy, Director of Nursing at Royal Perth Hospital.

The problems would be addressed in the context of a strategic plan the Health Department was developing, which would provide a blueprint for the future structure of the mental health system in this State.

That plan would include a clearer definition of the role of Graylands in that system and the development of a career structure for psychiatrists, in consultation with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

"We are fully aware that we have problems with mental health and that is precisely the reason I set up the Mental Health Task Force and required the department to develop the strategic plan," Mr Kierath said.

"The Ramsay review has proved something of a bonus, because it will help us focus immediately on some of those problems.

"So far as the review recommendations on private sector involvement in Graylands are concerned, the Health Department and Mental Health Task Force will now consider if the private sector can play a role in improving services.

"The top priority is to address the immediate problems at Graylands.

"The current state of mental health and the Ramsay's findings demand immediate and sustained efforts to improve mental health services.

"There is a clear need for fundamental change to ensure that these services improve, and improve quickly."

Mr Kierath said the Ramsay report gave an indication of how things might be done, but a number of issues still needed to be considered.

These included:

·       the role of Graylands in the National Mental Health Strategy;

·       how community-based services could be developed and integrated with the hospital;

·       how approved beds might be relocated to metropolitan, country and general teaching hospitals; and -

·       the need to amend legislation, depending on what decision was taken.

The Ramsay report, if implemented, would have significant implications for changes to staffing levels at the hospital and staff would be closely consulted and the options available fully canvassed.

Media contact: Brian Coulter  222 9595 / 481 2133