MENTAL HEALTH FARCE

Yesterday I posted about the stupid decision regarding mental health cuts and the need to re-instate the previous arrangements so people particularly in rural and regional Australia had more options. I sent out a media press release regarding the issue which you can read below.

It was disappointing that this did not get picked up by the Cairns Post given the major story in the Courier Mail about Cairns on mental health issues. The story provided figures showing Cairns patients have had to wait 150hours to get a bed. 86% of patients have to wait greater than 8hours. That's only the ones who hang around, how many walk out before they see someone to get the help they need?
While these people are waiting in cues or taking up beds it puts a further strain on the already struggling Emergency Department. Anything that takes pressure of our public health system and Emergency Department surely is a better solution than continuing with this.

This also follwoed the revelation from the member for Cairns that the current funding arrangements for Cairns Base Hospital are inequitable and have been a problem for 20years. WTF?? Then why didn't you do something?The story below shows the results.

you can read the Courier mail story at -

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mental-health-delays-a-joke/story-e6freoof-1226138234920

And the press release I put out yesterday-

Media release for Friday 16^th September 2011

Mental health service cuts impact on regional Australia

The Australian Party Candidate for Cairns Darren Hunt has called on the government to re-instate the program that provided mental health services to regional and rural Australia.

Mr Hunt said “The decision to cut the maximum visits allowed under the previous scheme since 2006 because of the new ‘Better access to mental health care’ is going to have severe impacts for areas like Cairns and surrounding rural and regional areas.”

“These decisions are made by bureaucrats in major cities who have access to a wide variety of health services that are not available to people in the bush. Where do those people go under this scheme?”

“People won’t drive 4hours off their farm, to catch a 2 hour plane ride for a one hour session in the city with a psychiatrist. There has to be flexibility and local services to meet the unique needs of Far North Queensland.”

“Too many Queenslanders are lost to suicide from mental health issues that could be addressed and I encourage everyone to make their voice heard with their local representatives or join the better access petition at http://betteraccess.net/index.php/petition-link.

Darren Hunt

Candidate for Cairns