Specialised mental health transport service begins in country WA

The State Government has launched a new initiative to improve the transfer of mental health patients in country Western Australia, with the introduction of a dedicated Mental Health Transport Officer (MHTO) workforce.

The transport of patients experiencing mental health issues will now be supported by Mental Health Transport Officers, a role previously undertaken by WA Police.

The MHTO workforce will have officers with specialised skills to be able to support patients during transfers between country and metropolitan hospitals.

The State Health Operations Centre will co-ordinate the MHTO workforce, which will work alongside local clinicians, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) WA, and St John Ambulance WA to facilitate aeromedical and road-based interhospital transfers to ensure safety for patients and staff.

The program is currently operating from a central base in Perth, with staff deployed via Royal Flying Doctor Service WA to regional sites.

Over the coming months, the program will expand its footprint, with staff based in regional centres as it enters the next phase of implementation.