The Liberal Government is committed to fixing the broken health system and putting patients back at the centre of decision-making – where they belong.
There are many, many areas of our health services which under the current system do not have the resources or support they need. That’s why we are committed to major health reform and are currently talking to clinicians and community members around the state about how we can get all of our hospitals and health services working together better.
Long-term, historical underfunding of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is one of these issues. The Government is fully aware of this historical lack of resources,
exacerbated by staffing cuts made by the previous Government in 2011, and we will be doing all we can to improve the situation through the reform process.
We have recently been able to find funding for an additional clinical position at Clare House, which will help to ease the pressure on existing staff. We understand this is only the beginning of what is required to deal with the long term underfunding issue.
We recognised prior to coming into government that there were many service gaps in the area of mental health. That’s why we initiated the Rethink Mental Health project, to provide for an independent analysis of the full range of public, private, federal, state and community sector-delivered mental health services.
We are also investing heavily in targeted youth suicide prevention programs, grass-roots mental health programs, and youth health nurses in our schools.
Despite some claims to the contrary, there have been no budget savings to the CAMHS under the 2014-15 budget. Funding for Clare House in the 2014-15 budget was $2.8m, an increase on the 2012-13 expenditure of $2.57m and 2013-14 expenditure of $2.62m. The Government is committed to working through long-term issues with staff and the Department.
The Clare House facility in Hobart recommenced taking new referrals on February 2 after several staff vacancies that had restricted the service from accepting new referrals for a six week period were filled.
I have spoken to Union delegates about their position that the service should not accept new referrals. The Government is committed to improving the long-term resourcing issues at Clare House, but we believe it is vital for the sake of children and adolescents requiring help that the service remains available for new admissions while we work through these issues.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health
