Amber-Jade Sanderson says suicidal teenager’s 116-hour wait a ‘symptom’ of demand not under-funding

Amber-Jade Sanderson has defended the Government’s handling of mental health and dismissed a senior doctor’s claim that a teenager’s 116-hour wait in ED was not an isolated case. In a letter of apology to Maddi and her mother Tara, Busselton Hospital Director of Medical Services Mark Holloway said the “prolonged boarding” of patients in emergency departments has become “increasingly common”. “Sadly, (Maddi’s) experience is not isolated,” he said. “The system itself failed to provide safe and timely access to appropriate mental health care.” Ms Sanderson, current Energy Minister and a former Health Minister, said funding has been increased but that demand is growing. “I can understand that when you’re a clinician on the front line, it’s hard to see all of the investment that’s going more broadly into the into the system,” she said. “The Premier, Roger Cook, when he was the minister, established the Infant Child Adolescent task force that actually came out with a suite of recommendations of just entirely reforming the system, that work is underway. “But there are increasing episodes of mental health in the community . . . that is a symptom of our community. “When you’re a busy frontline healthcare worker, you don’t necessarily see the announcement, you’re not reading the budget paper.” Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam called the response deeply disappointing. “Healthcare workers don’t need to read budget papers to know the system is under pressure,” she said. “They live it every day.” There were no adolescent inpatient beds available anywhere in WA, when then-17-year-old Maddi was rushed to hospital by ambulance in March after two suicide attempts in three days. She was transferred to a mental health bed in Joondalup, almost five days later. After the family spoke out to The West Australian, Health Minister Meredith Hammat apologised for the “unacceptable delay” and promised a review. Maddi’s mother said she accepted the Government’s apology but wanted to see change for the sake of others. “It’s not going to ever change that experience for us, and (the apology’s) something, but I think it would be better if, because of that, something changed, and no one else has to experience that,” Tara told ABC Mornings. “I would have taken her wherever I have to take her, but the fact that there isn’t anything down this way is hard.” The number of acute inpatient mental health beds in WA’s south-west has reduced from 23 to 11 since 2025. Plans are underway to reverse that cut, and increase to 27 beds by June 2027. The State Government said 17-year-olds can be admitted to adult units, where clinically appropriate. “There are 36 dedicated inpatient adolescent mental health beds in WA, catering specifically for 16 to 24-year-olds,” a Government spokesperson said. “In addition to the inpatient mental health beds there are 20 hospital in the home beds dedicated to the youth cohort.” But the Australian Medical Association said beds have not kept pace with population growth and the result was “traumatic and demoralising” for the hospital workforce. “Where people need an inpatient stay, we need available beds, and we’ve seen a drop in beds for patients with mental healthcare needs,” AMA WA President Kyle Hoath said. “The system is failing Western Australia’s young people at both ends, with the lack of paediatric diagnosis and intervention exacerbating mental health issues at later stages of their development.”