❓ Hon Helen Morton questions the Minister for Health regarding the deaths of active mental health service clients in 2006/2007, seeking confirmation on reporting procedures and advice provided by the Chief Psychiatrist. The Minister's response reveals discrepancies in data and reporting practices.
AnsweredQoN 5655Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister confirm that 454 people were active clients of the mental health service at the time of their death?
(2) Given the requirement stated in answer 1531 provided on 12 September 2006, that the Chief Psychiatrist of Western Australia is to be informed as a matter of priority of any death of a patient whilst under the care of any mental health service in Western Australia, can the Minister confirm that the 454 deaths in 2006/2007 of active clients of the mental health system were reported to the Chief Psychiatrist before 29 November 2007?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) Prior to 29 November 2007, had the Chief Psychiatrist provided the Minister with advice about the demographic profile and other information about the 454 deaths of active patients, which could include, causes of death, mental health diagnosis, the type and frequency of mental health services they were receiving, and those they needed but couldn’t get, where these people were located, when they died and whether anything could have prevented their deaths?
(5) If yes to (4), will the Minister please table the advice?
(6) If no to (5), -
(a) why not; and
(b) will the Minister seek the advice and indicate a time by which it will be tabled in Parliament?
(2) Given the requirement stated in answer 1531 provided on 12 September 2006, that the Chief Psychiatrist of Western Australia is to be informed as a matter of priority of any death of a patient whilst under the care of any mental health service in Western Australia, can the Minister confirm that the 454 deaths in 2006/2007 of active clients of the mental health system were reported to the Chief Psychiatrist before 29 November 2007?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) Prior to 29 November 2007, had the Chief Psychiatrist provided the Minister with advice about the demographic profile and other information about the 454 deaths of active patients, which could include, causes of death, mental health diagnosis, the type and frequency of mental health services they were receiving, and those they needed but couldn’t get, where these people were located, when they died and whether anything could have prevented their deaths?
(5) If yes to (4), will the Minister please table the advice?
(6) If no to (5), -
(a) why not; and
(b) will the Minister seek the advice and indicate a time by which it will be tabled in Parliament?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 March 2008
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Health
Response time
97 days
(1) A public mental health service includes all patients receiving care in hospitals who have a mental health diagnosis or a patient being treated in a mental health clinic. These services are managed and/or funded by the Department of Health. An active client of a public mental health service includes any persons who had an occasion of service/inpatient episode within a public mental health service in the last six months. 299 persons were active clients of a public mental health service at the time of their death during 2006-07. However, as this figure includes all active clients of a public mental health service who died of
any
cause during 2006/07, the cause of death may not be directly related to their mental illness.
The figure of 660 provided in response to PQ 1531, included all persons who died in 2006-07 and were registered on the Mental Health Information System at any point in time during the reporting period. The figures below should have been excluded from the previous figure of 660 for the following reasons:
· 206 persons were not registered as active at the time of their death, however, had been active during 2006-07;
· 128 persons were registered as active in the Mental Health Information System at the date of death, however, had not been active clients of public mental health services for at least six months prior to death;
· 26 persons were active only in the non-government sector and were not public mental health clients in the reporting period; and,
· 1 person incorrectly coded as a death.
(2) No.
(3) The number of deaths reported to the Chief Psychiatrist by mental health services in 2006/2007 was 62 active patients. Mental health services may not report a death to the Chief Psychiatrist for a number of reasons including: the service may not have been informed that a patient has died; or, the clinicians have not considered reporting necessary because the patient's death in their view was clearly attributed to natural causes or intercurrent, but not associated, physical illness. The Chief Psychiatrist only receives preliminary information about deaths and the Coroner makes the final decision regarding the cause of death. This process can sometimes take up to 2 years.
Of the 62 cases of death reported to the Chief Psychiatrist during 2006/07 the Coroner's Office has confirmed that 55 were reported to the Coroner.
The notification of a reportable death to the Coroner is a statutory obligation, and should be undertaken as soon as possible after a death occurs (maximum of 24 hours). The Chief Psychiatrist does not seek confirmation from mental health services that they have reported a death to the Coroner.
(4) No. The Chief Psychiatrist reviews the information provided by the health service of individual cases. In some circumstances he will advise the Director General of Health and the Minister for Health and liaise with the State Coroner, where appropriate.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) The 62 deaths reported to the Chief Psychiatrist 2006/2007 that are investigated by the Chief Psychiatrist are reported to the Director General of Health and recommendations are made directly to the services involved where applicable. Those deaths remain subject to appropriate investigation by the State Coroner and the Coroner will reach conclusions about the causes of death. The Chief Psychiatrist is responsive to the Coroner and the Department to the Coroner's recommendations.
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any
cause during 2006/07, the cause of death may not be directly related to their mental illness.
The figure of 660 provided in response to PQ 1531, included all persons who died in 2006-07 and were registered on the Mental Health Information System at any point in time during the reporting period. The figures below should have been excluded from the previous figure of 660 for the following reasons:
· 206 persons were not registered as active at the time of their death, however, had been active during 2006-07;
· 128 persons were registered as active in the Mental Health Information System at the date of death, however, had not been active clients of public mental health services for at least six months prior to death;
· 26 persons were active only in the non-government sector and were not public mental health clients in the reporting period; and,
· 1 person incorrectly coded as a death.
(2) No.
(3) The number of deaths reported to the Chief Psychiatrist by mental health services in 2006/2007 was 62 active patients. Mental health services may not report a death to the Chief Psychiatrist for a number of reasons including: the service may not have been informed that a patient has died; or, the clinicians have not considered reporting necessary because the patient's death in their view was clearly attributed to natural causes or intercurrent, but not associated, physical illness. The Chief Psychiatrist only receives preliminary information about deaths and the Coroner makes the final decision regarding the cause of death. This process can sometimes take up to 2 years.
Of the 62 cases of death reported to the Chief Psychiatrist during 2006/07 the Coroner's Office has confirmed that 55 were reported to the Coroner.
The notification of a reportable death to the Coroner is a statutory obligation, and should be undertaken as soon as possible after a death occurs (maximum of 24 hours). The Chief Psychiatrist does not seek confirmation from mental health services that they have reported a death to the Coroner.
(4) No. The Chief Psychiatrist reviews the information provided by the health service of individual cases. In some circumstances he will advise the Director General of Health and the Minister for Health and liaise with the State Coroner, where appropriate.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) The 62 deaths reported to the Chief Psychiatrist 2006/2007 that are investigated by the Chief Psychiatrist are reported to the Director General of Health and recommendations are made directly to the services involved where applicable. Those deaths remain subject to appropriate investigation by the State Coroner and the Coroner will reach conclusions about the causes of death. The Chief Psychiatrist is responsive to the Coroner and the Department to the Coroner's recommendations.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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