DISCUSSION PAPER
Transforming Health, Feb, 2015.
The Rebuild of Ward 17 as a Centre of Excellence
Written by Warren Featherby OAM
For Ward 17 Consumer & Carer Advisory Group
THE CLOSURE OF THE REPAT DISCUSSION NOTES
Introduction
This introductory document spells out the agreement between the Commonwealth and the State signed and agreed to on the 10 March, 1995.
Heritage listings.
At this time and subsequent to the following were announced as being Heritage List.
The central administration buildings- A, B and C blocks
Wards 1 to 4, including sunrooms and rectilinear form and building relationships, but excluding interiors and later additions.
The Schools Patriotic Fund Hall, including annexes to each side of the hall.
The Repat Chapel.
The Peace Garden
The former Mortuary, (now the museum).
The former post office, now demolished.
Some of the development since handover;
In 2000 the Rehabilitation Unit, possibly the best in Australia, was been completed at a cost of $14 million.
In 2009 Ward 18, a state of art geriatric psychiatric unit, was completed at a cost of $10 million.
In 2013 The 4th Generation clinics, attached to the Rehabilitation Unit, were completed.
In 2014 additional beds were added to Rehab A and B.
In 2014 the VITA complex was added to the campus.
In 2012/2013 the construction and relocation costs of the Flinders Medical Research Centre at The Repat.
Additionally Radiology SA upgraded their commitment to the hospital with development of their services.
Let us not overlook the monies spent on the implementation of EPAS thus far.
The cost of redeveloping the gardens of Ward 17 and Daw House.
The Consumer and Carer Advisory Group Ward 17.
In January, 2014, the Consumer and Carer Advisory Group, CCAG, made a submission to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Veterans Affairs via the Veterans Health Advisory Committee for the restructure and rebuild of Ward 17 as a state of the art Centre of Excellence for the treatment of Mental Health ( in particular Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Notwithstanding the general feedback since 2014 has been that this facility will not be built however.
Architects Walterbrooke and the four proposals for a rebuild, 2014.
I was invited to a meeting of the 11 March, 2014, held in Ward 18 and chaired by Mr David Everitt
At this meeting four proposals for a rebuild of Ward 17 were put to the meeting. All four drawings were accompanied by notes set out as Options 1 – 4, plus discussion notes of advantages and disadvantages.
My immediate thought was that this was going to happen that clinicians and the Veteran community just need to discuss form.
Subsequently.
Subsequent to this it was rumoured that the state government may well be selling off, or closing, all or part. Of The Repat Hospital.
As a result 0n the 13 August, 2014, CCAG, made a further submission to The Veterans Health Advisory Council. On this occasion committee set out what were considered to be non-negotiable in this process.
Some of these non-negotiable being the retention of;
Veterans’ mental health services.
Veterans’ rehabilitation services.
Daw House Hospice.
The Service Persons Guarantee be honoured.
The prosthetic services and associated exercise physiology.
Transforming Health policy.
I don’t believe that this announcement of the 3rd of February, 2015, needs any public commentary by myself except to say that there are many issues within the announcement that I do not agree with. It is now the province of the Consumer and Carer Advisory Group to analyse what has transpired, meet and establish a position in relation to this chain of events.
The government decision to transfer exercise physiology and hydrotherapy defies common sense when they intend to retain the prosthetics unit at The Repat. What of the requirement of these services for our mental health patients?
What of day surgery and the requirement to travel to Noarlunga. What of our palliative care services transferred from Daw House to Noarlunga?
Where to from here.
The World Health Organization defined in 1948 the following;
Health is defined as a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.
The American Psychological Association announced in 2005;
The connection Psychological studies show that your mind and your body are strongly linked. As your mental health declines, your physical health can wear down, and if your physical health declines, it can make you feel mentally "down."
Therefore we now need to ask the question of the government that if mental health is inextricably linked why we would be separating mental health treatment from hydrotherapy and exercise physiology. Why would we not address the socialisation problems that accompany mental health issues?
Additionally we need to sit down with clinicians and define what is “a state of the art centre of excellence” before we embark on this campaign for a new building.
I have yet to come to terms with the Ministers decision that exercise physiology and hydrotherapy, co-located with psychotherapy, is not the preferred outcome for Veterans.
Conclusion
It is my belief that The Repat provides the Veteran community with two key elements at time of crisis or stress.
Interaction with fellow Veterans at time of stress, cognitive behaviour therapy, where Diggers provide understanding and confidence to fellow Diggers which in itself becomes therapeutic.
Lastly The Repat is the only safe environment for Veterans regardless of age or gender and Lest we forget the contract to enlist, signed by the servicemen, and women, in the knowledge that should they be damaged they will be looked after. Well it was the government that put the Veteran in harms away and it is the governments’ responsibility to now look after them.
In conclusion new thinking also has to include a professional Transitional Care Coordinator to establish, and maintain, an effective outreach program.
Prepared by
Warren Featherby OAM
For the Consumer & Carer Advisory Group Ward 17, The Repat.