Tasmanian Liberals supports many of the Australian Medical Association Tasmania initiatives
President of the AMA Tasmania Dr Stuart Day responded to the Tasmanian Liberals’ Mental Health policy released today saying that, “AMA Tasmania welcomes the commitment of the Liberals to investment in mental health, both with additional staff and the bed infrastructure.”
The Liberals has listened with their important focus on Mental Health. Dr Day said, “The commitment to fund much needed additional acute mental health beds is what the AMA has been calling on for over a year. The additional 10 acute mental health beds and the ongoing recognition that acutely unwell mental health patients require services on site at our public hospitals is welcomed.”
The staffing of the soon to be build Adolescent Health Beds delivers an important service to Tasmanians that been under recognised for many years. “Members welcomed the plan to engage with staff and stakeholders in planning the decisions around opening of these additional services. They also are positive about the
Taskforce for integration of mental health services across the southern region however the AMA believe this should take a more statewide focus as significant service gaps exist in the North and North West.”
The AMA recognise that the vast majority of mental health services and patient care occurs in the community with our Specialist General Practitioners, Community based Psychiatrists and Mental Health Teams. Dr Day said “The additional access to beds in the community and a commitment to address homelessness in those with mental illness are important components of the recovery process.”
AMA’s Vision is for a high quality, accessible, integrated and equitable health system for the whole state, with all politicians working to ensure longer term strategies are developed and implemented.