WA health leaders apologise to teen who waited nearly five days for mental health bed

The West Australian health minister and head of the country health service have apologised to a teen who languished in an emergency room for almost five days awaiting an adolescent mental health unit bed.

Readers are advised that this article includes a mention of attempted suicide and mental health.

In March, the then-17-year-old tried to take her own life twice before she was rushed to Busselton Health Campus, 220 kilometres south of Perth.

Her mother, Tara, who the ABC has chosen not to identify, said the teen was identified as high-risk by psychiatric nurses.

But she was still left in limbo for 116 hours, waiting for a place in a specialised mental health unit.

"She just felt like, 'What's the point of being here? We're not going to get help, so why are we still here?'", Tara told 102.5 ABC Perth.

Eventually, the teen was admitted to Joondalup Mental Health Unit in Perth's north.

Health director 'truly sorry'

In a letter sent to the family, WA Country Health Service director of medical services, Mark Holloway, offered a "sincere apology" for the delay and distress experienced by the family.

"I am truly sorry that we were unable to provide her with timely access to the specialised environment and treatment she required," he wrote.

Dr Holloway admitted the Busselton family's experience was not isolated.

"This situation has been significantly exacerbated in the Southwest by the reduction in acute inpatient mental health beds since August 2025 as part of the Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment, with capacity reduced from 23 beds to 11 during this period."

The Bunbury Regional Hospital has the South West region's only acute mental health unit.

The opposition has been raising the region's diminished mental health services in parliament for months.

Opposition health spokesperson and member for Vasse Libby Mettam said the painful experience of Tara and her daughter was avoidable.

"We see the outcome of that, where a vulnerable patient is waiting five days.

"The government knew for some time that the Bunbury Regional Hospital development would mean the closure of some acute mental health beds."

Minister concedes delay 'unacceptable'

WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat issued an apology to the teenager and her family for "this unacceptable delay".

It comes within 24 hours of the government opening a 40-bed adult mental health facility at Fremantle Hospital.

Ms Hammat commended staff at Busselton Health Campus for their care for the distressed teenager.

"However, the prolonged stay in the emergency department due to the delayed transfer experienced on this occasion is unacceptable and will be reviewed," she said.

"Our government and the Department of Health and Mental Health Commission are working together to strengthen mental health supports across the state, both in the community and in our hospitals."

Ms Hammat said the $471 million Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment was the largest in the state's history.

"While these works are taking place, Bunbury Regional Hospital has expanded its Mental Health Hospital in the Home program, increased staffing in the emergency department and increased support for local community organisations and GPs," she said.

"All Western Australians in crisis should receive the care they need when they need it, regardless of where they live."

In response to questions in Parliament last month, the Ms Hammat confirmed there were eight places available in the Mental Health Hospital in the Home program.

Ms Mettam said that was not enough to make up for the loss of 12 acute psychiatric beds in Bunbury Regional Hospital.

"It's clear from the correspondence we've seen from the hospital as well, that there's enough demand for dedicated adolescent mental health beds in the region," she said.

Tara said it was "scary" to think how many others might have fallen through the gaps of WA's regional mental health system.

"There aren't enough services and it's scary to think that we're only one family, and how many other families are out there, and it just doesn't seem like there are beds, and where do these people all go?" she said.