AMA Public Hospital Report Card: Mental Health Edition released
Yesterday we launched our latest Public Hospital Report Card: Mental Health Edition at Parliament House in Canberra.
Yesterday we launched our latest Public Hospital Report Card: Mental Health Edition at Parliament House in Canberra.
Unfortunately, there has been no improvement overall from last year’s report, with patients with mental health conditions continuing to spend an average of seven hours waiting for care in public hospital emergency departments.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen told reporters several factors contribute to the issues facing public hospitals, including exit block, a shortage of inpatient mental health unit beds, and a lack of investment in community and primary mental healthcare.
“The report highlights the importance of properly resourcing general practice and community mental health services to take pressure off emergency departments,” Dr McMullen said.
“Governments must focus on funding accessible, high-quality mental health supports outside of hospital environments.”
Pressure in Australia’s logjammed public hospitals is mounting with our 2025 Public Hospital Report Card (released in February) revealing a troubling combination of record-high waiting times and historically low-bed capacity per person across the public-hospital system.
We continue to advocate for the next National Health Reform Agreement to be delivered as soon as possible, and for it to contain the investment needed to ensure all patients get the care they need and when they need it.
