By TOM HAYES
RECENT performance reports released by the Department of Health show that Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), Gippsland’s main acute mental health provider, is failing to meet mental health-based government service targets, according to local Nationals members Martin Cameron, Danny O’Brien, and Melina Bath.
In the 2023-2024 financial year, LRH only achieved 84 per cent of its targeted mental health community service hours, according to The Nationals. Based off the figures achieved in the first quarter report, that number is on target to fall to just 76 per cent in the current year.
Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron said it was extremely disappointing to see LRH continuing to fail to meet service targets despite the recent establishment of a $10 million emergency department mental health hub.
“This report shows LRH as the worst performing public hospital in the state in terms of meeting mental health community service hours targets,” Mr Cameron said.
“While it was promising to see financial investment in LRH through the establishment of the mental health hub, this is only beneficial if we are actually able to staff and properly resource the facility.”
According to The Nationals, these performance reports also show that only 36 per cent of mental health patients presenting to LRH Emergency Department (ED) are offered a bed within eight hours, a significant fall from 53 per cent last quarter and well below the targeted 80 per cent.
However, the state government holds firm that since the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System handed down its final report, significant progress has been made to achieve its 10-year reform plan, with work underway to implement more than 90 per cent of recommendations and record investment over the past three years.
“No other jurisdiction in the country is doing as much reform to the mental health system as Victoria – and we’re not wasting a minute building a system that works for every person, whether they live in West Gippsland, East Gippsland, or the Latrobe Valley,” a state government spokesperson told the Express.
“When it comes to mental health and reducing drug harms, we won’t be taking any lectures from the Liberal National Party – this is a party who opened just two rehab beds in four years when last in government, compared with our strong record that includes more than doubling the number of residential rehab beds across the state to more than 500.”
In this financial year, the state government says to have invested almost $3 billion, which is almost double the mental health investment in the 2017/18 financial year – the year before the commitment to establish the Royal Commission was made.
The state government has invested to improve mental health across the Latrobe Valley, including:
-Mental health and Wellbeing Locals in Morwell (as well as Bairnsdale and Orbost) to give residents greater access to tailored mental health and wellbeing care;
-A new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care centre in Traralgon, which is currently under construction and will open in 2025;
-Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect centre in Traralgon (as well as Bairnsdale and Wonthaggi) to provide care and support to family and carers of those with mental ill health;
-Millions of dollars from the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund;
-State-wide expansion of the Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement program, with a site in Traralgon (as well as Sale, Wonthaggi, Bairnsdale, and Warragul);
-A 20-bed, multi-million-dollar, youth-specific residential rehabilitation facility in Traralgon, opened in 2022, and;
-An early Intervention and Integration Lead for eating disorders care at LRH.
On top of these investments, The Mental Health and AOD Emergency Department Hub at LRH is set to open early into 2025.
“We remain committed to providing all Victorians the mental health support they need, when and where they need it – it’s why we have not wasted a day working to build our state’s new mental health system,” a state government spokesperson said.
Nonetheless, Leader of The Nationals and Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, said the performance reports were not a reflection on the hard-working mental health professionals who are doing their best in extremely difficult circumstances.
“The local demand for mental health support is higher than ever, and you simply can’t offer a bed that doesn’t exist,” he said.
“Our local health professionals work tirelessly to achieve the best outcomes for our community, but they are fighting with their hands tied behind their backs when our health services are understaffed and under-resourced.”
The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath said more needed to be done to assist with mental health support before it results in an ED presentation.
“I often hear from the community that people are being asked to wait months for an appointment with a psychologist or a counsellor,” Ms Bath said.
“When someone speaks up and asks for help, it is crucial that they are able to access timely support, not in three months’ time.”
Latrobe Regional Hospital was approached for a comment, but did not reply before the print deadline.
