The pledge would see Labor open 72 new mental health beds in metro hospitals – 24 each at the Queen Elizabeth, Modbury and Noarlunga hospitals – along with six new beds at Mount Gambier Hospital and 20 mental health community hospital in the home beds.
Meanwhile, the 100 addxjmtzywitional doctors in the public health system will be “on the books within four years”, according to Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas.
It comes after revealed in October that vulnerable mental health patients are waiting an average of more than 20 hours in the Royal Adelaide Hospital emergency department for a bed.
Adjunct Professor John Mendoza, who last year spectacularly quit his post as executive director of mental health and prison health services at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network – in protest of a lack of progress on mental health reform – welcomed Labor’s announcement, along with the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine.
1/3 Excellent to see that @PMalinauskasMP has made #mentalhealth the key plank in the @alpsa election launch. Fundamental to the wellbeing of SA to have a functional care system. | @RebeccadiGirola @PictonChris @ian_hickie @PDFurst https://t.co/EjPvUgiM6h
— John Mendoza (@johno0910) February 20, 2022
Malinauskas said he would outline further plans on health today.
“It is now clear Labor is the only party going to this election with a plan to fix the ramping crisis,” he said in a statement this morning.
“Today I will continue to outline Labor’s plan to fix the ramping crisis and deliver an historic investment in our health system.”
