❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about a potential increase in sexual assault reports at Graylands Hospital following the closure of a female mental health ward, and questions the government's plans for the facility. The Minister refutes the link and cites improved reporting mechanisms.
AnsweredQoN 560Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION — GRAYLANDS
HOSPITAL — SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS
560. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
Information from the budget
estimates process from the Mental Health Commission states that in 2013–14
there was one reported sexual assault at Graylands Hospital. In 2014–15
there were 26, and in 2015–16 to May there have been 11.
(1) Does the
Minister for Health agree that the decision to close Western Australia's
only female mental health ward has resulted in the increase of sexual assault
reports at Graylands?
(2) Why is the
state government not doing more to protect vulnerable women in Western Australian
mental health facilities?
(3) What are the
government's future plans for Graylands, given only $90 000 is
allocated for the next financial year and nothing in the forward estimates?
(4) How many beds
at Graylands are planned to close over the next financial year and what are the
total planned bed closure numbers per year over the forward estimates?
HOSPITAL — SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS
560. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
Information from the budget
estimates process from the Mental Health Commission states that in 2013–14
there was one reported sexual assault at Graylands Hospital. In 2014–15
there were 26, and in 2015–16 to May there have been 11.
(1) Does the
Minister for Health agree that the decision to close Western Australia's
only female mental health ward has resulted in the increase of sexual assault
reports at Graylands?
(2) Why is the
state government not doing more to protect vulnerable women in Western Australian
mental health facilities?
(3) What are the
government's future plans for Graylands, given only $90 000 is
allocated for the next financial year and nothing in the forward estimates?
(4) How many beds
at Graylands are planned to close over the next financial year and what are the
total planned bed closure numbers per year over the forward estimates?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for
Planning representing the Minister for Health, I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) No. I refer
to the answer provided at estimates for the Mental Health Commission. It stated
that during 2013–14, notification of incidents to the Chief
Psychiatrist was through a paper-based system. From 1 July 2014, notification
of incidents to the Chief Psychiatrist was completed through the WA Health
Datix clinical incident management system and/or the paper-based notification
system. This is a significant improvement in reporting mechanisms, which has
led to more robust data across all domains of notifiable incidents, including
sexual assaults. Therefore, the number of incidents reported during 2013–14
is unlikely to be a true estimate of the actual number of incidents that had
occurred and should not be compared with the 2014–15 and 2015–16
data.
(2) This question should be directed
to the Minister for Mental Health.
(3) The ''Western
Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025''
was finalised in late 2015 and recommends the development of contemporary
mental health care closer to where people live, moving away from
institutionalised models of care. The WA government will be considering future
plans for Graylands in due course and cognisant of the recommendations within
the plan.
(4) No bed closures are planned at
Graylands Hospital in the next financial year.
Planning representing the Minister for Health, I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) No. I refer
to the answer provided at estimates for the Mental Health Commission. It stated
that during 2013–14, notification of incidents to the Chief
Psychiatrist was through a paper-based system. From 1 July 2014, notification
of incidents to the Chief Psychiatrist was completed through the WA Health
Datix clinical incident management system and/or the paper-based notification
system. This is a significant improvement in reporting mechanisms, which has
led to more robust data across all domains of notifiable incidents, including
sexual assaults. Therefore, the number of incidents reported during 2013–14
is unlikely to be a true estimate of the actual number of incidents that had
occurred and should not be compared with the 2014–15 and 2015–16
data.
(2) This question should be directed
to the Minister for Mental Health.
(3) The ''Western
Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025''
was finalised in late 2015 and recommends the development of contemporary
mental health care closer to where people live, moving away from
institutionalised models of care. The WA government will be considering future
plans for Graylands in due course and cognisant of the recommendations within
the plan.
(4) No bed closures are planned at
Graylands Hospital in the next financial year.
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