Mental health blow at Royal

Tick for psych training withdrawn

THE State Government is trying to ensure mental health services at the Royal Hobart Hospital are not affected by the loss of the hospital’s accreditation for psychiatric medical training.

In State Parliament, Opposition Leader Rebecca White said the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists had withdrawn accreditation from the hospital, meaning no trainee psychiatrists could be placed in the hospital.

Ms White told Health Minister Michael Ferguson the decision was related to the hospital’s inability to cope with demand.

“This decision has been linked to a lack of acute mental health beds, which you cut,” Ms White said.

Mr Ferguson said he had inwhere structed the Tasmanian Health Service to engage with the college to address the issues that led to the accreditation being withdrawn.

“We are committed to that training program,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said he accepted there were more mental health patients presenting at the hospital, putting further pressure on the system.

“We are not meeting demand. That’s why we are opening additional beds,” he said.

The Royal’s medical staff association chairman Frank Nicklason said there was now a crisis in acute psychiatry.

“Especially at the RHH mentally ill patients are waiting an inordinate time in the ED. To top it off the RHH has now lost its ability to train our next generation of psychiatrists. That is an unmitigated disaster, the full ramifications of which are not clear,” Dr Nicklason said.

Tasmanian Health Service chief operations officer Nicola Dymond said the health service was “working constructively” with the accreditation college to resolve its concerns.

“The THS is working to ensure no disruption to patient care and THS will continue to ensure patient care and safety is our top priority,” Ms Dymond said.

“Yesterday, THS agreed to arrangements with the college and affected staff to ensure that their training continues within the THS, and that care is provided for inpatients, while this matter is resolved.”