QWN 1406 - Forensic Mental Health Services
1406. Hon Alison Xamon to the Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Corrective Services I refer to forensic mental health services within the Department of Corrective Services, and ask —
(1) What measures have been put in place to ensure an appropriate delivery of mental health services to prisoners, given the recent significant increases in prisoner numbers and the expectations of further increases?
(2) Has any extra budget allocation been provided for forensic mental health services this year?
(3) What is the 2009–2010 budget?
(4) What was the 2008–2009 budget?
(5) What was the 2007–2008 budget?
(6) Have any new forensic mental health services or programs been initiated this year?
(7) Have any programs been cut this year?
(8) If yes to (7), which ones?
(9) What follow-up is provided to prisoners, who have received treatment for mental illness while in prison, following their release?
(10) Could the Minister please advise the process, whereby individuals receiving treatment through the Department of Corrective services are transferred across to the mainstream mental health system on release from prison?
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied:
(1) An integrated Co-Morbidity (mental health and addictions) service is provided at all adult prisons state wide. A multi disciplinary team including a Psychiatrist, Senior Medical Officers (Psychiatry), a Senior Medical Officer (Addictions), Mental Health Nurses and Allied Health Professionals, offer a range of evidence based interventions to offenders who require mental health treatments across all prisons. Patients who cannot be managed within the prison environment due to the acuity of their mental health problem are referred and admitted to the Frankland Centre for specialist management subject to availability of beds.
(2) Refer to answer 3.
(3)-(5) Health Services has not been allocated specific identified funding for mental health services. Mental health services are currently being provided by using funding provided from the former Drug Management Program (DMP) and funding from Daily Average Prisoner Population (DAP) which is provided under the banner of Co-Morbidity Services. Funding is shared with the other cornerstones of prison health care which are Blood Borne Diseases, Chronic Disease and Primary Care.
(6) No new forensic mental health services or programs have been initiated this financial year.
(7) No programs have been cut this financial year.
(8) Not applicable.
(9) Offenders who have been treated for mental health problems while in custody are referred to community based mental health services or to their general practitioner, subject to their agreement.
(10) Subject to the individuals' agreement, a referral including a discharge summary is forwarded to either the individuals' general practitioner or the local community mental health provider.