Review of drug/alcohol rehabilitation services in Geraldton

The provision of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Geraldton is to be reviewed.

Health Minister Keith Wilson and Acting Mid-West Minister Jim McGinty said a committee had been established to carry out the review.

Its terms of reference would be to:

·         identify all existing resources for delivering alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in Geraldton;

·         determine priority areas for service delivery, and

·         recommend ways to improve service delivery, which may include a re-organisation of resources.

Mr Wilson said the committee would report to him by the end of August.

The committee would comprise representatives from relevant Government bodies, the community, local government, local service providers and private health practitioners.

The Government bodies represented would include the WA Alcohol and Drug Authority and the Health, Police, Corrective Services and Community Services departments.

Mr McGinty said the director of the Geraldton Mid-West Development Authority, Graeme Stephens, would chair the committee.

"The committee has a tight timetable but it is essential that we act quickly on this matter as there has been some concern about the provision of these services," Mr Wilson said.