An investigation is underway after a woman took her own life within the emergency department of Perth's Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) last week, WA Health Minister Roger Cook has confirmed.

Key points: The Health Minister said the death was not related to a shortage of beds or staff

The Health Minister said the death was not related to a shortage of beds or staff He would not confirm whether the woman was admitted as a psychiatric patient

He would not confirm whether the woman was admitted as a psychiatric patient He said he was convinced all procedures had been followed correctly

The incident comes after the hospital was hit by a recent spate of doctor resignations within the mental health unit, with seven psychiatric registrars handing in their notice.

Mr Cook said last week's incident took place after the woman was admitted to the hospital, one of Western Australia's major tertiary health care centres, but could not comment on the specific circumstances due to patient confidentiality.

"Any death in a hospital environment is examined very carefully and learnings taken away from it, and if appropriate reports provided to the coroner," he said.

He would not confirm whether the woman's hospital admission was mental health-related or whether she was admitted to the psychiatric ward.

"Hypothetically, any patient that comes in with a mental health issue is provided with appropriate supervision," he said.

"I can't comment as to whether mental health issues were associated with this particular incident."

Mr Cook said he had been assured the incident was not linked to a lack of beds or a shortage of staff.

"This is a tragic and horrible event and obviously the family is distressed, the staff at the hospital are distressed," he said.

"But I am convinced that all of the processes that should have been in place were in place."

Call to avoid 'blame and shame'

Mr Cook said he was not aware of any procedural changes following the incident.

Health Consumers' Council executive director Pip Brennan called for an "effective, transparent and compassionate" response.

"Our expectation is that FSH will be walking the family through the whole investigation process," she said.

"We would also hope that the staff are being appropriately supported in the wake of this, and that it is not a 'blame and shame' approach.

"Instead we hope that the patient safety issues are being unpacked systemically and new ways of working are being developed."

In a statement, South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) chief executive Paul Forden said an internal investigation had commenced to examine the chain of events.

He said FSH was keeping the woman's family informed about the investigation and the case had been referred to the WA Coroner.

Series of doctor resignations

There are meant to be 12 psychiatric registrars employed at FSH, but more than half of those doctors have recently resigned.

A hospital spokeswoman said seven psychiatric registrars had left the hospital "for various personal and professional reasons".

She said the turnover in psychiatric staff was not related to emergency department staffing.

Mr Cook said the woman's death was not related to a shortage of beds or staff at the hospital. ( ABC News: Jacob Kagi )

The spokeswoman also said recruitment was underway to fill these positions and the hospital is currently advertising for a pool of full-time psychiatric registrars.

"FSH currently has seven FTE [full-time equivalent] for psychiatric registrars," SMHS said in a statement.

"Prior to the new registrars commencing, the positions have been backfilled with a registered medical officer (RMO) and locum psychiatric registrars to ensure there is no gap in staff."

Emergency department under 'extreme pressure'

Australian Medical Association WA president Omar Khorshid said the hospital's emergency department was under extreme pressure.

He said the situation was made more difficult because of the additional burden of the flu, the ongoing lack of access to mental health beds, and the meth crisis sparking an increase in the number of patients suffering from substance abuse issues.

"Emergency departments are really tough places to work. They are chaotic, particularly at peak times, and that is when patient care can really slip away when staff are just overburdened with the work," Dr Khorshid said.

"We know … emergency departments with too many patients, too much work and not enough staff are environments that lead to worse patient care and to tragic outcomes for patients."

The AMA's Omar Khorshid says emergency departments are tough places to work. ( ABC News: Alisha O'Flaherty )

Dr Khorshid described the turnover in specialist psychiatric care as an ongoing issue.

"We have known for years that we have challenges facing the workforce in psychiatry and medicine," he said.

"That includes specialist psychiatrists and also trainees.

"There have been measures put in place to attract more people into that part of the profession, but it is yet another problem that is facing this sector and another problem that is contributing to the issues we have in providing timely and safe mental health care to our patients."