❓ A parliamentary question addresses the circumstances surrounding the death of Carly Elliott, focusing on the response of mental health services to her urgent referral and subsequent non-attendance at appointments. The Minister's response details the contact made with Carly and her GP.
AnsweredQoN 1126Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CARLY ELLIOTT — DEATH
I refer to the death from probable suicide of 20-year-old Carly Elliott on 31 March 2011 at her home. I have been asked by Carly’s parents, who I understand have also been in contact with the minister’s office, to raise this matter. (1) Can the minister explain why, despite an urgent referral by Carly’s general practitioner to the Alma Street Centre on 29 October 2010 due to Carly’s severe depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, an appointment was not made available to her until 15 November? (2) Can the minister explain why Carly’s non-attendance at both this appointment and a subsequent appointment on 25 November did not result in an urgent follow-up by the mental health emergency response team? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the death from probable suicide of 20-year-old Carly Elliott on 31 March 2011 at her home. I have been asked by Carly’s parents, who I understand have also been in contact with the minister’s office, to raise this matter. (1) Can the minister explain why, despite an urgent referral by Carly’s general practitioner to the Alma Street Centre on 29 October 2010 due to Carly’s severe depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, an appointment was not made available to her until 15 November? (2) Can the minister explain why Carly’s non-attendance at both this appointment and a subsequent appointment on 25 November did not result in an urgent follow-up by the mental health emergency response team? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(1) Can the minister explain why, despite an urgent referral by Carly’s general practitioner to the Alma Street Centre on 29 October 2010 due to Carly’s severe depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, an appointment was not made available to her until 15 November? (2) Can the minister explain why Carly’s non-attendance at both this appointment and a subsequent appointment on 25 November did not result in an urgent follow-up by the mental health emergency response team? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(2) Can the minister explain why Carly’s non-attendance at both this appointment and a subsequent appointment on 25 November did not result in an urgent follow-up by the mental health emergency response team? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(1) Can the minister explain why, despite an urgent referral by Carly’s general practitioner to the Alma Street Centre on 29 October 2010 due to Carly’s severe depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, an appointment was not made available to her until 15 November? (2) Can the minister explain why Carly’s non-attendance at both this appointment and a subsequent appointment on 25 November did not result in an urgent follow-up by the mental health emergency response team? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(2) Can the minister explain why Carly’s non-attendance at both this appointment and a subsequent appointment on 25 November did not result in an urgent follow-up by the mental health emergency response team? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(1) Five hours after receiving the general practitioner’s referral, Alma Street Centre triage made contact with Carly by phone. Carly reassured the triage officer in regards to her own safety and Carly stated that her doctor wanted her to see a psychiatrist so that the GP would have a better understanding of her symptoms and how to treat her. Carly accepted the triage officer’s advice regarding the time frame expected for her first appointment. As I mentioned in my answer yesterday, Carly had an exceptionally good relationship with her primary caregiver—the GP—so the effort was being put in to assisting and supporting that relationship. (2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
(2) There was regular phone contact with Carly from 29 October 2010 until 3 March 2011. On each occasion she gave reassurance regarding her own safety. Triage staff made contact with Carly on 4, 5 and 16 November 2010. From 29 October 2010 to 25 November 2010, messages were left three times. Phone calls were also made to both parents individually and a discussion occurred with the GP on 30 November 2010, during which the GP confirmed Carly had numerous “did not attend” incidents over a long period.
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