Bentley Family Clinic
392. Mr Adam Hortto theMinister for Health:
I refer to advice to patients of Bentley Family Clinic, which provides specialist public mental health care to more than 120 local children and adolescents, that it will close at the end of September 2025.
(1) Why has the government decided to close this essential service, leaving families to travel up to 20 kilometres further to access treatment for their children?
(2) Will the minister confirm that despite a suitable location being identified for BFC, funding to re-establish the service was not provided?
(3) Has the minister considered the serious concerns raised by clinicians about the potential negative impact this closure will have on children's continuity of care?
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. As a government, we are very focused on making sure young people, in particular those experiencing mental health challenges, get access to appropriate care and appropriate support. Young people often need to access that care in a variety of ways, and their families are an important part of that as well; we need to make sure that they are able to access the care that they need. That is why we have invested significantly in mental health services, particularly for children and young people. At the most recent state budget alone, we made $65.5 million worth of election commitments for mental health services for children and young people in Western Australia. We are making significant investments to ensure young people, particularly those who are experiencing mental health concerns, get the care that they need.
The relocation of the Bentley Family Clinic service is part of a project to ensure that we can undertake works to expand services related to the East Metropolitan Health Service, particularly the delivery of the commitment to build a surgicentre. I have been advised by the Child and Adolescent Health Service that families have been contacted to advise them in relation to the change. Alternative sites will be available while we work to relocate that service to another area in the catchment zone, so people will have access to services at, I am advised—
Several members interjected.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: No, the service is not closing.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The services are not closing; the services are being relocated whilst we—
Mr Adam Hort: They will come back.
The Speaker: Members.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are being relocated whilst we identify an appropriate site in that same catchment zone. For a temporary period, services will be available at Midland, Armadale and Murdoch, with telehealth available for those who need to access it. The service will return when a suitable site where that work can be conducted is located.
393. Mr Adam Hortto theMinister for Health:
I have a supplementary question. What support is being provided to these families to make sure they can in fact access this support at these alternative locations?
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Minister, thank you.
Ms Meredith Hammat replied:
As I said, there are no cuts to services. The staff and those families will be relocated—
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda, you have asked the question and the minister is responding.
Ms Meredith Hammat: The staff and those families will be able to access services at Midland, Armadale and Murdoch or, if it is more suitable, via telehealth. It will be a measure for a temporary period whilst we locate a suitable location for those services to be delivered in the current catchment zone when it returns.
