Question on Notice regarding the definition and occurrence of 'code yellow' emergencies (internal emergencies posing harm to patients, staff, or visitors) in metropolitan hospitals between 2010 and 2013. The Minister was unable to provide the data within the timeframe.

AnsweredQoN 858Legislative Council
Asked
21 August 2014
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

MENTAL
HEALTH — DISASTER RESPONSE — CODE YELLOW
858. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the ''Mental
health disaster response sub-plan''.
(1) What is a ''code yellow'''
emergency?
(2) Were any code
yellow emergencies issued in each of the metropolitan regions for the following
periods —
(a) 2010–2011;
(b) 2011–2012; and
(c) 2012–2013?
(3) If yes to (2), what were the
locations and the dates of each code yellow emergency?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) A ''code
yellow'' is an internal emergency that may result in potential or real
harm to patients, visitors or staff. As such, it requires prompt, coordinated
action to prevent further danger. Internal emergencies can be classed as
hospital-wide or departmental, and represent both failure and/or threat to
services such as electricity; medical gases; water, sewerage et cetera;
communications, such as telephone, paging et cetera; information technology;
structural damage; and system overloads, such as emergency department overload
and/or hospital bed crises following bed escalation plan.
(2)–(3)
Providing the information in the time required is not possible and I request
that the member place the question on notice as this data is not kept centrally
and a manual search through hard copy records is required to provide the
information.

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