01/12/05
Psychiatric services in the South-West will receive a funding boost from the amalgamation of the South West Area Health Service (SWAHS) with the Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS).
Health Minister Jim McGinty said an additional $500,000 would be allocated to mental health services in the South-West by reducing the level of bureaucracy in the system.
“As of next week, the management of the SWAHS will be under the control of the WACHS, which currently manages the other six health regions across WA,” Mr McGinty said.
“Three senior executive positions will be abolished, resulting in a half-million-dollar boost for mental health services in the South-West.
“What this means for health care in the South-West is more clinical services, fewer bureaucrats.
“This is just the first of many benefits that will arise from the creation of a single and efficient management structure for country health services across WA.”
The South West Area Health Service has existed alongside WA Country Health Services as a separate administration unit since 2002.
Mr McGinty said the amalgamation would remove the unnecessary duplication of services.
“There was no justification to support the continuation of two separate country administration structures,” he said.
“The amalgamation of the SWAHS with the WACHS will combine the expertise of both units and will direct resources from the duplicated administrative services back into patient care.”
SWAHS chief executive Michael Moodie has been appointed as the Director of Technology and will be responsible for implementing the current health reform program relating to information and communication technology and medical technology.
Mr McGinty said that the amalgamation was part of the health reform program being implemented across the State, which included an allocation of more than $206million to develop six regional resources centres.
“The amalgamation of the SWAHS with the WACHS is part of a total rebuild of the State’s health system,” the Minister said.
“Our booming economy means we can invest an extra $3.5billion to build new hospitals and upgrade existing hospitals throughout the State.
“The Gallop Government is improving the quality of health services to all Western Australians wherever they live.”
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