❓ A parliamentary question regarding the death of Carly Elliott and the mental health care she received from Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Clinic. The Minister responds, clarifying the care provided and correcting some assumptions.
AnsweredQoN 1110Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CARLY ELLIOTT — DEATH
I refer to the death of 20-year-old Carly Elliott on 31 March 2011 at her home from probably suicide. 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. During the months of Carly’s interaction with Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Clinic — (1) How many face-to-face hours did Carly have with professional medical staff? (2) Who saw her and for what therapeutic purpose? (3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the death of 20-year-old Carly Elliott on 31 March 2011 at her home from probably suicide. 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. During the months of Carly’s interaction with Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Clinic — (1) How many face-to-face hours did Carly have with professional medical staff? (2) Who saw her and for what therapeutic purpose? (3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(1) How many face-to-face hours did Carly have with professional medical staff? (2) Who saw her and for what therapeutic purpose? (3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(2) Who saw her and for what therapeutic purpose? (3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(1) How many face-to-face hours did Carly have with professional medical staff? (2) Who saw her and for what therapeutic purpose? (3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(2) Who saw her and for what therapeutic purpose? (3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre with regard to her suicidal intentions, she was at no stage given a full mental health assessment or a full suicide risk assessment; and, if so, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I also thank the member for having got from the parents the appropriate authorisation for me to provide information of the patient’s medical record in this manner. I also appreciate that the parents understood that this was going to be used in the Parliament of Western Australia, so I feel quite comforted by that process that the member has now entered into, and I thank her for that. I also want to say that at no time had Carly not being getting appropriate care. Her primary caregiver in respect of the services that she had been receiving, from the briefing notes that I have seen, was her general practitioner, and her general practitioner’s involvement was substantial. The mental health service had been involved in supporting the GP in that role. In particular in the five hours after the GP first made contact with the mental health service and Carly was referred to the mental health service, she was contacted by phone by the triage services. So, there have been quite regular phone calls and contact with Carly, with the GP and with the parents in the management of her care. However, the following is the answer to the specific questions — (1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(1) A one-hour, face-to-face assessment was undertaken. (2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(2) The community emergency response team—CERT—home visited Carly on 1 March 2011. (3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
(3) No, the member is incorrect in that particular assumption she has made. On 1 March 2011 Carly was given a full mental health assessment and risk assessment when the community emergency response team saw her at home in response to a phone call from her father.
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