The state of mental health services in Port Macquarie has for a long time been inadequate, advocates say. 

But the realisation that the last purpose-built group home in Port Macquarie will, most likely, never again be used for its original purpose has dealt a heavy blow.

Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) director of Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services John Leary admitted there was a need for this type of service in Port Macquarie but limited resources simply did not allow for it.

“The need is not so great in this area that we can afford a full unit for one or two patients,” he told the Port News.

Helen Elliott, the mother of severe mental illness sufferer Tracey Elliott said this response showed Mr Leary had: “completely lost touch with the people he is meant to care for”.

Lack of funding, she said, was simply an unfounded excuse when the numbers didn’t add up.

Mrs Elliott told the Port News she believed the total running costs for Ellimatta totalled some $350,000 a year for seven people.

Those figures could not be verified.

Data, however, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report on Mental Health Services in Australia 2011 revealed the expenditure for public sector specialised mental health hospital services during 2009-2010 averaged at $802 per patient day. 

The Northern Territory had the highest average cost per patient day at $1,189, while the average cost in Queensland was the lowest at $752.

The AIHW data shows average patient day costs for acute services, such as those on offer at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s psychiatric ward, were slightly more expensive at $863.

If you times the $800 a day average, by 365 days in a year the cost equates to $292,000 for one person annually – compared to the alleged $350,000 expense for seven people.

Although the MNCLHD would not provide the Port News with cost comparisons, Mrs Elliott suggests a group home like Ellimatta would prove much cheaper than the long-term hospitalisations of those with chronic mental illness.

She believes this solution would make sense, on the basis of both costs, and the health benefits.

“Again, there are many sufferers in our community that need this level of care – the workers at the ground level know this but the suits don’t get it,” Mrs Elliott said.

“I feel that they are waiting for us to give up on our campaign for support accommodation for our loved ones.”