❓ Hon. Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding a significant increase in reported absconding mental health patients. The Minister attributes the increase to improved reporting compliance.
AnsweredQoN 619Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL
HEALTH — ABSCONDING PATIENTS
619. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to Department of Health figures obtained through a
freedom of information application that showed that 240 mental health patients
were reported by staff as absconders in
2012–13.
(1) Will the
minister advise the house how 240 patients absconded in 2012–13 when
only 66 absconded in 2011–12?
(2) Which facilities did these patients abscond from and how
many absconded from each facility?
HEALTH — ABSCONDING PATIENTS
619. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to Department of Health figures obtained through a
freedom of information application that showed that 240 mental health patients
were reported by staff as absconders in
2012–13.
(1) Will the
minister advise the house how 240 patients absconded in 2012–13 when
only 66 absconded in 2011–12?
(2) Which facilities did these patients abscond from and how
many absconded from each facility?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. If I
recall rightly, that FOI was put in by a Scientology group, so that is
interesting.
Hon Stephen Dawson : It was in The West Australian , minister, so it must be true.
Hon Ken Travers : Shoot the messenger; go on.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a very interesting question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer.
Hon HELEN MORTON : The answer is —
(1) The
figures are the number of reports to the Chief Psychiatrist from health or
other mental health services to inform the Chief Psychiatrist that a patient's
whereabouts may not be known at a point in time. The definition of ''absconding''
is very broad. For example, it includes patients who may be on approved leave
from inpatient care but have not returned to the ward by the specified time;
they could be half an hour late et cetera. I am advised that the increase in
numbers represents an increase in compliance with reporting to the Chief
Psychiatrist. We have made sure of that.
Hon Stephen Dawson : Are you guaranteeing that that's
the case?
Hon HELEN MORTON : That is what I am advised by the
Chief Psychiatrist and the service providers. Actually, it is something that I
would have required to happen anyway. I continue —
(2) Reports
are received from hospital emergency departments and ward areas and other
mental health facilities. A breakdown of reports by facility can be provided;
however, it would take some time and I ask the member to put that part of the
question on notice.
recall rightly, that FOI was put in by a Scientology group, so that is
interesting.
Hon Stephen Dawson : It was in The West Australian , minister, so it must be true.
Hon Ken Travers : Shoot the messenger; go on.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a very interesting question.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer.
Hon HELEN MORTON : The answer is —
(1) The
figures are the number of reports to the Chief Psychiatrist from health or
other mental health services to inform the Chief Psychiatrist that a patient's
whereabouts may not be known at a point in time. The definition of ''absconding''
is very broad. For example, it includes patients who may be on approved leave
from inpatient care but have not returned to the ward by the specified time;
they could be half an hour late et cetera. I am advised that the increase in
numbers represents an increase in compliance with reporting to the Chief
Psychiatrist. We have made sure of that.
Hon Stephen Dawson : Are you guaranteeing that that's
the case?
Hon HELEN MORTON : That is what I am advised by the
Chief Psychiatrist and the service providers. Actually, it is something that I
would have required to happen anyway. I continue —
(2) Reports
are received from hospital emergency departments and ward areas and other
mental health facilities. A breakdown of reports by facility can be provided;
however, it would take some time and I ask the member to put that part of the
question on notice.
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