EASIER ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES PLAN
- Rockhampton the first of two Step Up, Step Down specialist youth mental health services announced by the LNP.
- Service to provide short-stay residential mental health services for patients.
- Part of a $50 million investment into youth mental health services, to be delivered by funds raised from the Mental Health Levy.
- Commitment delivers on LNP’s plan for health services when you need them and pledge to provide transparency about the investment of the mental health levy.
The LNP has today announced a purpose-built youth mental health Step Up, Step Down facility for the Rockhampton region, as part of its plan to restore health services when you need them across regional Queensland.
Central Queensland will be the site of the first of two Step Up, Step Down youth mental health facilities providing sub-acute mental healthcare, and bridging the transition between hospital treatment and outpatient treatment.
The service provides 24/7 residential care, allowing young people to either step down from hospital treatment or step up into clinic care for Queenslanders suffering mental illness.
The $50 million boost to youth mental health services in Queensland will be delivered for out of the Mental Health Levy, which the LNP has committed to reinvest every dollar back into vital mental health services and facilities across the state.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the Rockhampton Step Up, Step Down project would be a vital addition to Rockhampton’s existing health services and deliver on the LNP’s commitment to restore health services when you need them.
“The LNP will boost youth mental health services for Central Queensland, with a purpose-built facility to support young people at risk of acute episodes of mental illness,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“The Step Up, Step Down facility will support young people who have recently experienced, or who are at increasing risk of experiencing, an acute episode of mental illness.
“These services offer stepped up care when more is needed than can be offered in patients’ own home, or stepped down care to help young people get back into the routine of everyday life after spending time in hospital due to mental illness.
“Labor’s Health Crisis has seen the young people in the regions left with nowhere to turn when facing mental illness, the LNP’s plan will deliver health services when they needed them.”
LNP Candidate for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the Step Up, Step Down facility would offer essential recovery support, easing the burden on overstretched hospitals.
“The LNP’s Step Up, Step Down services will offer short-stay 24-hour support as an alternative to hospital, or to help transition back into the community while staying in touch with family, carers and other community support providers as people get better,” Mr Hutton said.
“Mental Health is at a crisis point in Rockhampton, especially among our most vulnerable young people; and this project will deliver the sub-acute relief needed with compassionate, long-term solutions.”
LNP Candidate for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the LNP’s Step Up Step Down facility for Rockhampton would help address Rockhampton’s Health Crisis created by Labor.
“Step Up, Step Down will provide a more gradual and better planned return to the community, increasing the chances of successful recovery for young people in our community and reducing the risk of readmission,” Ms Kirkland said.
“With 48% of patients ramped on arrival at Rockhampton hospital, it’s no wonder young people just aren’t getting the help they need under Labor.
“Our regions have had health services stripped away by Labor, when Queenslanders should instead have access to world-class healthcare like Step Up, Step Down.”
Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said time was up for Labor’s Health Crisis, which had left 287,716 Queenslanders waiting to see a specialist and many more unable to get the elective surgery they needed.
“Labor has not only refused to explain what is happening with the mental health levy, they have failed to deliver the mental health services regional Queensland needs,” Ms Bates said.
“Only the LNP will continue to boost our health and hospital services in regional Queensland because we’re committed to health services when you need them.
“Nothing will change unless we change the government by voting for the LNP next month.
“Queensland needs a fresh start, only the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s future.”