Government funds Adult Mental Health Centre for eastern suburbs

13/10/00
Residents in Perth's eastern suburbs will now find it much easier to access to mental health services.
Health Minister John Day said people in suburbs such as Ballajura, Beechboro and Ellenbrook no longer needed to travel to Middle Swan for appointments.
"The lack of direct public transport to Middle Swan and the time involved in making the journey often made treatment impractical," he said.
Mr Day said the State Government was committed to ensuring that health services were established in areas that meet the community's needs.
"There is a strong focus on the provision and expansion of community based services," he said.
The Minister said the State Government had spent $443,000 to develop the new centre and would spend a further $700,000 annually on recurring costs.
"This facility will accommodate a multi-disciplinary team including the adult consultant psychiatrist, community mental health nurses, occupational therapists and social workers that provide adult-based community mental health services," he said.
"The equivalent of eight additional full-time staff have been engaged to operate the new centre."
Mr Day said staff would liaise closely with local general practitioners to provide a shared-care model of service delivery.
"More effective communication between service providers will result in improved clinical outcomes for consumers," he said.
Media contact: Carole Cowling 9213 6600