Mental health support to go virtual under WA-first model

Mental health services, including crisis support, will go virtual in a WA-first co-response model announced in a tranche of state government health budget commitments.

The model, which is based on trials in the eastern states, will provide support to a person in crisis in their home through a combination of virtual care and a mobile crisis response team consisting of a paramedic and a mental health practitioner.

It forms part of a $47 million expansion WA Virtual Emergency Department expansion to address the underlying causes of ambulance ramping.

Some $7.9 million will be allocated to the mental health co-response model, with a further $28 million over four years committed for additional staff within WAVED, and $8.6 million over tow years to expand geriatric virtual care services.

A co-funded, 24-month pilot of Extended Care Paramedics – a program which would have highly trained paramedics assess and treat suitable patients at the scene – was also funded to the tune of $1.4 million.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the state government was working hard to reduce ambulance ramping hours.

“This is on top of the suite of measures already working to improve access to emergency care and reform the health system,” she said.

“The new mental health co-response model will reduce avoidable emergency department attendance, hospital admission and improve the experience for mental health patients in our health system.”

According to state government statistics, ambulance ramping in the six months to March 2024 reduced by 27 per cent compared to the same period last year.