Busselton emergency department understaffing a crisis according to mental health professionals

The South West mental health crisis has reached critical levels, according to local professionals, as they call for additional trained staff in hospitals. The calls come after it was revealed a suicidal teenager spent eight days in Busselton emergency department waiting for a mental health bed to open up two hours away from home at Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital’s youth mental health unit. According to Busselton psychologist Keith Mowat the heartbreaking experience was becoming commonplace in the region as he called for additional psychiatric liaison nurses at the Busselton Health Campus. A psychiatric liaison nurse is specialist staff member trained to respond and manage patients presenting to emergency department with mental health issues to ensure they get the treatment needed. In August this year the Busselton hospital has one psychiatric liaison nurse working 56 hours over the week, however, this has since increased to three according to the WA Country Health Service. Dr Mowat described the South West’s mental health system as at crisis point. “The worst-case scenario of not having more mental health staff has already happened, “ he said. “People are presenting to ED feeling suicidal, they’re not treated or are left waiting for hours on end and are instead leaving to complete suicide. “The recently covered cases of mental health issues in ED are not outliers, it’s what we’re seeing all the time and experiencing with our own patients and it’s devistating. “A lot of the times when people present to ED they’re in crisis, there’s something that’s tipped them over the edge which happens anytime, anyday and often after business hours and weekends, especially when drugs and alcohol are involved,” he said. “PLNs are trained, they’re experts in mental health assessments, able to pick up on subtle signs untrained staff in ED may miss or are intimidated by. . . without them we see patients in critical need leave untreated or not attend at all.” The shortage of mental health staff has been growing in the region for months, with patients being told they have to wait up to 12 months to see a psychologist in the region, if they are not turned away all together. According to the Mental Health Commission in 2020 there were 381 registered deaths by suicide in WA, with the State having the fourth highest suicide rates across Australia. Between 2016 and 2020 WA had the highest rate of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the second highest rate of suicide among children. The 2021/22 State Budget includes 99 additional staff positions for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, however, the Mental Health Commission said the South West was not included in the staff funding. However, several services were funded for the region, most of which are to be based in Bunbury. Health Minister Roger Cook said while there were only three PLNs at the Busselton Health Campus, patients have access to 24/7 mental health care through its emergency department. “Patients presenting to Busselton Health Campus have 24/7 access to acute mental health support through both a psychiatric liaison nurse and the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service,” he said. “To ensure the PLN service is available throughout periods of demand, roster profiles are currently variable across seven days. “In addition to support available through the ED, WACHS also employs a Community Mental Health Team in Busselton. “Here, people are able to access care through practitioner referral, through self-referral or by simply, walking in. “ However Vasse MP and Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said it wasn’t enough for the ever growing mental health need in the region. “It’s clear... that demand for the PLN has doubled since this role was introduced last year and we cannot afford to be playing catchup on this critical issue of supporting vulnerable mental health patients in our region,” she said. “Currently, there are 1.4 FTE at Busselton health campus which services and supports the growing Capes community, but it is essential resources are expanded to meet growing demand in the area. “The staff at Busselton Hospital do a fantastic job and more recently have been supported by a Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service. However, the provision of a PLN greatly supports the staff and provides the expertise that is essential for people who present to ED with mental health issues.” “I urge the Minister to ensure additional resourcing is prioritised and accelerated to ensure this position is filled as soon as possible.”