❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question on notice regarding the conditions and management of Bandyup Women's Prison, including overcrowding, treatment of Aboriginal prisoners, and program availability. The response provides updates on various recommendations from a recent inspection report.
AnsweredQoN 4904Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recently released Report 73 ‘Report of an Announced Inspection of Bandyup Women’s Prison’ of the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, and I ask -
(1) How many prisoners are there currently at Bandyup Women’s Prison (Bandyup) within each security classification?
(2) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 1 -
(a) what is the current population at Bandyup;
(b) how many women are currently sleeping on floors;
(c) on how many nights over the past 24 months have women slept on floors;
(d) are the demountables currently being used; and
(e) if no to (2)(d), when will the demountables be in use?
(3) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 2, and the footnote to it -
(a) does the Minister and the Department acknowledge that Aboriginal prisoners may need to be treated differently for substantive equality to be achieved;
(b) when will the part of the hierarchical system review about barriers to Aboriginal women accessing the more desirable accommodation areas be completed; and
(c) will the Minister forward the outcome of this review to the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services?
(4) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 4, and the footnote to it, will the Minister please provide more meaningful information including but not limited to -
(a) how is the assessment of the focus on women prisoners being carried out;
(b) what are the terms of reference for the assessment;
(c) when will the assessment be completed;
(d) has the Minister identified a need for dedicated resources to drive the Department’s strategic direction of women’s corrective services;
(e) if yes to (4)(d), what funding and other resources have you committed to it; and
(f) if no to (4)(d), what are the reasons for this?
(5) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 5, and the footnote to it -
(a) will you please provide full details regarding the new ‘Demand Model’ of funding women’s custodial management;
(b) if no to (5)(a), why not;
(c) if the answer to (5)(b) is that the model has not yet been approved by the Department of Treasury -
(i) when is the Department of Treasury expected to make its decision; and
(ii) if the Department of Treasury approves the model, will the Minister forward full details of the model to the Office of the Inspector for Custodial Services?
(6) Regarding Recommendation 14’s reference to the absence of high need violent offending treatment programs for women, when will the modified Choice, Change and Consequences program, discussed at paragraph 4.29 of the report, be ready for launch?
(7) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 17, and the footnote to it -
(a) have the ‘licensing issues’ preventing use of computers by prisoners been resolved yet;
(b) if no to (7)(a) -
(i) what is the nature of the licensing issues; and
(ii) how long is it expected to take for the licensing issues to be fully resolved,
(c) how many computers are currently available for use by prisoners;
(d) by how many will this number increase in 2011-12;
(e) at what times are the computers available for use by prisoners;
(f) will the computers be available for personal use, for example social visits via Skpe as happens at Hakea and Acacia Prisons; and
(g) if no to (7)(f), why not?
(8) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 18, and the footnote to it -
(a) has the visitor survey been developed;
(b) if yes to (8)(a), will the Minister please provide full details regarding the methodology and content of the survey;
(c) if no to (8)(a) -
(i) will you provide the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services with full details regarding the methodology and content of the survey when it has been developed;
(ii) if no to (8)(c)(i), why not; and
(iii) when will the survey commence?
(9) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 20, when is the Department expected to reach a decision on whether to allow day stays for ‘significant’ children with female prisoners who are their mothers?
(10) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 22 -
(a) what ways have been identified for providing Bandyup prisoners with their legal entitlements regarding access to legal resources and assistance to research their cases; and
(b) when will these changes be implemented?
(11) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 23, and the footnote to it -
(a) will the Department provide the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services with documented details of the reviews of October 2010 and July 2011 when they are available; and
(b) if no to (11)(a), why not?
(12) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 26 -
(a) given the footnote to the response, what is the Minister’s revised response to that recommendation;
(b) on average, how many medical appointments are requested per prisoner at -
(i) Bandyup; and
(ii) Casuarina Prison,
(c) how many FTE medical staff are available for medical appointments at -
(i) Bandyup; and
(ii) Casuarina Prison?
(13) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 27, and the footnote to it, when do you expect the scheme for linking Aboriginal prisoners with their local Aboriginal Community Health Service upon release to be in full operation?
(14) Regarding footnote 198 to the Department’s response to Recommendation 29 -
(a) how many Bandyup staff attended cultural safety training in September; and
(b) how many more Bandyup staff will attend this training in 2011-12?
(15) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 32 -
(a) how many Bandyup prisoners have mental health issues;
(b) how does this figure compare with the number of people in the wider community who have mental health issues;
(c) is the Crisis Care Unit designed for long term occupancy by people who have mental health issues;
(d) is the Crisis Care Unit a therapeutic environment for people who have mental health issues; and
(e) if no to (15)(c) and/or (d), why have no resources been made available to advance Recommendation 32?
(16) Given the footnote to the Department’s response to Recommendation 33, what alternative arrangements are in place for 24 hour mental health advice to be provided when necessary?
(17) Regarding paragraphs 9.102 and 9.103 of the report which describe an absence of preventive care or health promotion despite its potential to reduce the degree of pathology in the population and enhance wellbeing, and noting also paragraph 6.35 of the report which says that 50 percent of women in prison were directly responsible for care of a child prior to their arrest -
(a) will the QUIT smoking program described at paragraph 9.103 run at Bandyup again in 2011-12;
(b) if no to (17)(a), why not; and
(c) what, if any, other preventive health programs will run at Bandyup in 2011-12?
(18) Given Bandyup’s lack of open space, oval or market garden compared with other maximum security prisons -
(a) what discussions have taken place regarding expanding Bandyup’s ‘footprint’; and
(b) when will decisions about any change to Bandyup’s ‘footprint’ be made?
(19) Regarding the various responses by the Department which acknowledge the need for staff training (for example responses to Recommendations 9 and 11), how will the Minister address the issue of maintaining Bandyup’s services while various staff are attending training?
(1) How many prisoners are there currently at Bandyup Women’s Prison (Bandyup) within each security classification?
(2) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 1 -
(a) what is the current population at Bandyup;
(b) how many women are currently sleeping on floors;
(c) on how many nights over the past 24 months have women slept on floors;
(d) are the demountables currently being used; and
(e) if no to (2)(d), when will the demountables be in use?
(3) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 2, and the footnote to it -
(a) does the Minister and the Department acknowledge that Aboriginal prisoners may need to be treated differently for substantive equality to be achieved;
(b) when will the part of the hierarchical system review about barriers to Aboriginal women accessing the more desirable accommodation areas be completed; and
(c) will the Minister forward the outcome of this review to the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services?
(4) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 4, and the footnote to it, will the Minister please provide more meaningful information including but not limited to -
(a) how is the assessment of the focus on women prisoners being carried out;
(b) what are the terms of reference for the assessment;
(c) when will the assessment be completed;
(d) has the Minister identified a need for dedicated resources to drive the Department’s strategic direction of women’s corrective services;
(e) if yes to (4)(d), what funding and other resources have you committed to it; and
(f) if no to (4)(d), what are the reasons for this?
(5) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 5, and the footnote to it -
(a) will you please provide full details regarding the new ‘Demand Model’ of funding women’s custodial management;
(b) if no to (5)(a), why not;
(c) if the answer to (5)(b) is that the model has not yet been approved by the Department of Treasury -
(i) when is the Department of Treasury expected to make its decision; and
(ii) if the Department of Treasury approves the model, will the Minister forward full details of the model to the Office of the Inspector for Custodial Services?
(6) Regarding Recommendation 14’s reference to the absence of high need violent offending treatment programs for women, when will the modified Choice, Change and Consequences program, discussed at paragraph 4.29 of the report, be ready for launch?
(7) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 17, and the footnote to it -
(a) have the ‘licensing issues’ preventing use of computers by prisoners been resolved yet;
(b) if no to (7)(a) -
(i) what is the nature of the licensing issues; and
(ii) how long is it expected to take for the licensing issues to be fully resolved,
(c) how many computers are currently available for use by prisoners;
(d) by how many will this number increase in 2011-12;
(e) at what times are the computers available for use by prisoners;
(f) will the computers be available for personal use, for example social visits via Skpe as happens at Hakea and Acacia Prisons; and
(g) if no to (7)(f), why not?
(8) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 18, and the footnote to it -
(a) has the visitor survey been developed;
(b) if yes to (8)(a), will the Minister please provide full details regarding the methodology and content of the survey;
(c) if no to (8)(a) -
(i) will you provide the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services with full details regarding the methodology and content of the survey when it has been developed;
(ii) if no to (8)(c)(i), why not; and
(iii) when will the survey commence?
(9) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 20, when is the Department expected to reach a decision on whether to allow day stays for ‘significant’ children with female prisoners who are their mothers?
(10) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 22 -
(a) what ways have been identified for providing Bandyup prisoners with their legal entitlements regarding access to legal resources and assistance to research their cases; and
(b) when will these changes be implemented?
(11) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 23, and the footnote to it -
(a) will the Department provide the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services with documented details of the reviews of October 2010 and July 2011 when they are available; and
(b) if no to (11)(a), why not?
(12) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 26 -
(a) given the footnote to the response, what is the Minister’s revised response to that recommendation;
(b) on average, how many medical appointments are requested per prisoner at -
(i) Bandyup; and
(ii) Casuarina Prison,
(c) how many FTE medical staff are available for medical appointments at -
(i) Bandyup; and
(ii) Casuarina Prison?
(13) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 27, and the footnote to it, when do you expect the scheme for linking Aboriginal prisoners with their local Aboriginal Community Health Service upon release to be in full operation?
(14) Regarding footnote 198 to the Department’s response to Recommendation 29 -
(a) how many Bandyup staff attended cultural safety training in September; and
(b) how many more Bandyup staff will attend this training in 2011-12?
(15) Regarding the Department’s response to Recommendation 32 -
(a) how many Bandyup prisoners have mental health issues;
(b) how does this figure compare with the number of people in the wider community who have mental health issues;
(c) is the Crisis Care Unit designed for long term occupancy by people who have mental health issues;
(d) is the Crisis Care Unit a therapeutic environment for people who have mental health issues; and
(e) if no to (15)(c) and/or (d), why have no resources been made available to advance Recommendation 32?
(16) Given the footnote to the Department’s response to Recommendation 33, what alternative arrangements are in place for 24 hour mental health advice to be provided when necessary?
(17) Regarding paragraphs 9.102 and 9.103 of the report which describe an absence of preventive care or health promotion despite its potential to reduce the degree of pathology in the population and enhance wellbeing, and noting also paragraph 6.35 of the report which says that 50 percent of women in prison were directly responsible for care of a child prior to their arrest -
(a) will the QUIT smoking program described at paragraph 9.103 run at Bandyup again in 2011-12;
(b) if no to (17)(a), why not; and
(c) what, if any, other preventive health programs will run at Bandyup in 2011-12?
(18) Given Bandyup’s lack of open space, oval or market garden compared with other maximum security prisons -
(a) what discussions have taken place regarding expanding Bandyup’s ‘footprint’; and
(b) when will decisions about any change to Bandyup’s ‘footprint’ be made?
(19) Regarding the various responses by the Department which acknowledge the need for staff training (for example responses to Recommendations 9 and 11), how will the Minister address the issue of maintaining Bandyup’s services while various staff are attending training?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
28 days
(1) As at 16 November 2011, there are 225 prisoners at Bandyup Women's Prison. Of these 9 are maximum, 169 are medium and 47 are minimum security.
(2)(a) As at 16 November 2011, there are 225 prisoners at Bandyup Women's Prison.
(b) As at 16 November 2011 there are 10 women sleeping on matresses on the floor. There are a number of reasons why prisoners may be sleeping on mattresses on the floor at Bandyup, and this not always due to a shortage of beds in the prison. For example, prisoners sleeping on mattresses in a particular unit may be as a result of them not being suitable to be housed in an alternative unit. In order for Bandyup to maintain a hierarchical structure where good behaviour is rewarded, standards of behaviour must be maintained within specific units. If the behaviour of a prisoner falls short of the required standards for that unit yet they are allowed to remain within the accommodation, this places the prison at risk of disorder by lowered behavioural standards.
Several units within Bandyup are of a self care nature, and not all prisoners are able to care for themselves or have the desire to do so, therefore placing them in self care units presents risks. The same relates to maintaining a separate orientation unit whereby new receptions are housed and allowed to settle into prison life, thus reducing risk of self harm and prisoner disorder. Support systems also mean that some prisoners choose to share cells when facing difficult situations. For example, the death of relatives or other such issues where they feel they need support.
What needs to be considered is that Bandyup is vastly different to the male estate in that it operates under significant role complexity. It delivers a regime catering for all prisoners all of the time and does not have the dispersal options afforded to the male prisons. As a result, such accommodation does not always align to the number of beds within each unit as being full for operational reasons. Unless the Department was to abandon initiatives like self care and the hierarchical structure and revert to warehousing, the Department would not be able to fill all available beds before reverting to using beds on floors.
(c) Data is not readily available.
(d) Yes
(e) Not applicable.
(3)(a) Yes
(b) The review is about the hierarchal system not Aboriginality.
(c) The Department will make the report available to the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS).
(4)(a) The Department has established a steering committee and working groups which will look at the delivery of services to women. These committees/groups include:
· Female Prisoners Strategic Plan Steering Committee
· Female Prisoners Strategic Plan - Analysis Working Group
· Female Prisoners Strategic Plan - Evaluation of other locations Working Party
(b) The Female Prisoners Strategic Plan project specifically incorporates female adult offenders in custody and will link to other objectives being undertaken within the Department including the Female Offender Policy and Framework. A cross divisional steering committee has been developed to ensure accurate information and data is applied to the Female Prisoners Strategic Plan project.
This information will be coordinated by the project manager who will develop the eventual Female Prisoners Strategic Plan. The development of the Female Prisoners Strategic Plan will ensure a custodial focused State Plan is developed to provide the platform to support capital works business cases to drive the Department's strategic direction of women's corrective services.
(c) First quarter, 2012.
(d) Yes. The Department has established a steering committee with cross representation focused on these issues.
(e) Funded within the Departmental budget and resources as outlined in (4)(d).
(f) Not applicable.
(5)(a) No
(b) The demand model is currently being developed in line with Treasury.
(c)(i) It is not known when the Department of Treasury will make its decision.
(ii) The Department will make it available to OICS.
(6) The roll-out of the amended Choice, Change and Consequences program is expected to commence in quarter one, 2012/13.
(7)(a) Yes
(b)(i)-(ii) Not applicable
(c) 22 computers are currently available for use by prisoners. (20 computers are available for education and two computers are available in the library for legal use only.)
(d) The amount of computers available to prisoners will be assessed to accommodate increased prisoner numbers.
(e) The use of the 20 computers for education are available from 8.45am to 11.25am and 12.45pm to 3.25pm. The two computers in the library are available during the following times (dependant upon prisoner recreation time):
Monday to Friday:
9.00am to 11.30am, 1.00pm to 3.30pm, for prisoners on days off work.
4.00pm to 5.00pm for all prisoners.
Weekends and Public Holidays:
9.30am to 11.30am, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, 4.00pm to 5.00pm for all prisoners.
(f) Yes
(g) Not applicable
(8)(a) Yes
(b) [See tabled paper no.]
(c)(i) The Commissioner will make it available to OICS.
(ii) Not applicable
(iii) The survey commenced in October.
(9) The Department's response to recommendation 20 does not relate to mothers.
(10)(a) The provision of computers and access to word software. The Department is continuing to look at ways to provide assistance.
(b) These changes have already been implemented.
(11)(a) Yes, the Department will provide this to OICS.
(b) Not applicable
(12)(a) Nil. There is no revised response.
(b)(i)-(ii) Appointment request data per prisoner is not available.
(c)(i) Clinical Nurse Manager - 1 FTE
Nurses- 7.81 FTE which allows for 3x 12/7 nurses.
Doctors- funded for 2.0 FTE to provide for 14 patient contact sessions per week. Currently receiving on average ten sessions per week.
Co-Morbidity - Three full time staff covering 10/7, and four psychiatry sessions per week.
(ii) Clinical Nurse Manager - 1 FTE.
Nurses (Outpatients) - 7.0 FTE which allows for 3x 12/7.
Nurses - (Infirmary) - 10.0 FTE this allows for 2x 24/7.
Doctors- funded for 3.0 FTE to provide for 21 patient contact sessions per week. Currently receiving 19 sessions per week.
Co-Morbidity - 3.5 full time staff covering 10/7 and ten psychiatry sessions per week.
(13) North Metro Area Health Service (NMAHS) is the nominated provider for this contract. The Department continues to communicate with NMAHS with respect to obtaining a start date for the service however has not yet received a confirmed start date. It should be noted that the service is provided by an external body (NMAHS) and managed by Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS).
(14)(a) Nil
(b) Expected number is 17.
Cultural Training is contracted out to the Aboriginal Council of Health WA (ACHWA) to provide the service. All regional areas have been completed and the Department is awaiting the ACHWA schedule to commence metro area training. A Department representative is meeting with ACHWA on 21 November 2011 in this regard.
(15)(a) For the quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2011, there were 1370 occasions of service undertaken by the co-morbidity team with 249 distinct individuals. A snapshot taken on 7 November 2011 indicated 67 (29%) distinct individuals were being managed for a major mental illness, by the co-morbidity team. A further 50 (21%) distinct individuals with a less acute mental illness were being managed by the primary care team on the same day.
(b) In the "Health and Wellbeing of Adults in Western Australia, Overview and Trends" report 2011, 9.2% of all women interviewed were being treated for a mental health problem . This compares to a total of 50% of female offenders being treated for a mental illness while in Bandyup.
(c) No. The Crisis Care Unit is only used in an emergency and then only for a short period.
(d) No. As the unit is not staffed by clinical staff, the Crisis Care Unit could not be considered a therapeutic environment for people who have a mental health issue.
(e) The Department has nominated a unit where prisoners who are considered vulnerable can reside. However, no resources are currently available to advance this recommendation further.
(16) All medical practitioners, including the "on call" doctor can access the Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MERL) on a 24/7 basis or can contact the Emergency Department of their local hospital for advice and support, where urgently required.
(17)(a) No
(b) From February 2008 to December 2010 the Department supplied prisoners with free nicotine replacement patches (NRT) as part of the Department's initiative to have reduced smoking in prisons. Nominated health and custodial staff from each site completed Fresh Start Training with Cancer Council WA to enable them to conduct smoking cessation groups to assist patients to quit. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) was to be used in conjunction with group attendance over six consecutive weeks - one hour per week approximately.
The groups were not widely successful, as attendance and motivation of participants was limited and coupled with time constraints of staff. Most importantly the replacement therapy was abused by prisoners and was being used to supplement their nicotine intake. Due to the ongoing abuse of NRT, limited motivation of patients in engaging and no obvious health outcomes, the free patches were ceased on 1 January 2011.
(c) A health promotion day entitled "check out for women's health" was held earlier in the year. Health promotion and education is undertaken as part of ongoing one on one consults. All prisoners have access to the Quitline via the prisoner telephone system, free of charge.
(18)(a)-(b) There are no current discussions taking place.
(19) The prison is locked down each Friday morning to allow training to take place on the site. In addition, if staff are required to attend the Academy, training is arranged during the non-leave period or overtime is made available.
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(2)(a) As at 16 November 2011, there are 225 prisoners at Bandyup Women's Prison.
(b) As at 16 November 2011 there are 10 women sleeping on matresses on the floor. There are a number of reasons why prisoners may be sleeping on mattresses on the floor at Bandyup, and this not always due to a shortage of beds in the prison. For example, prisoners sleeping on mattresses in a particular unit may be as a result of them not being suitable to be housed in an alternative unit. In order for Bandyup to maintain a hierarchical structure where good behaviour is rewarded, standards of behaviour must be maintained within specific units. If the behaviour of a prisoner falls short of the required standards for that unit yet they are allowed to remain within the accommodation, this places the prison at risk of disorder by lowered behavioural standards.
Several units within Bandyup are of a self care nature, and not all prisoners are able to care for themselves or have the desire to do so, therefore placing them in self care units presents risks. The same relates to maintaining a separate orientation unit whereby new receptions are housed and allowed to settle into prison life, thus reducing risk of self harm and prisoner disorder. Support systems also mean that some prisoners choose to share cells when facing difficult situations. For example, the death of relatives or other such issues where they feel they need support.
What needs to be considered is that Bandyup is vastly different to the male estate in that it operates under significant role complexity. It delivers a regime catering for all prisoners all of the time and does not have the dispersal options afforded to the male prisons. As a result, such accommodation does not always align to the number of beds within each unit as being full for operational reasons. Unless the Department was to abandon initiatives like self care and the hierarchical structure and revert to warehousing, the Department would not be able to fill all available beds before reverting to using beds on floors.
(c) Data is not readily available.
(d) Yes
(e) Not applicable.
(3)(a) Yes
(b) The review is about the hierarchal system not Aboriginality.
(c) The Department will make the report available to the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS).
(4)(a) The Department has established a steering committee and working groups which will look at the delivery of services to women. These committees/groups include:
· Female Prisoners Strategic Plan Steering Committee
· Female Prisoners Strategic Plan - Analysis Working Group
· Female Prisoners Strategic Plan - Evaluation of other locations Working Party
(b) The Female Prisoners Strategic Plan project specifically incorporates female adult offenders in custody and will link to other objectives being undertaken within the Department including the Female Offender Policy and Framework. A cross divisional steering committee has been developed to ensure accurate information and data is applied to the Female Prisoners Strategic Plan project.
This information will be coordinated by the project manager who will develop the eventual Female Prisoners Strategic Plan. The development of the Female Prisoners Strategic Plan will ensure a custodial focused State Plan is developed to provide the platform to support capital works business cases to drive the Department's strategic direction of women's corrective services.
(c) First quarter, 2012.
(d) Yes. The Department has established a steering committee with cross representation focused on these issues.
(e) Funded within the Departmental budget and resources as outlined in (4)(d).
(f) Not applicable.
(5)(a) No
(b) The demand model is currently being developed in line with Treasury.
(c)(i) It is not known when the Department of Treasury will make its decision.
(ii) The Department will make it available to OICS.
(6) The roll-out of the amended Choice, Change and Consequences program is expected to commence in quarter one, 2012/13.
(7)(a) Yes
(b)(i)-(ii) Not applicable
(c) 22 computers are currently available for use by prisoners. (20 computers are available for education and two computers are available in the library for legal use only.)
(d) The amount of computers available to prisoners will be assessed to accommodate increased prisoner numbers.
(e) The use of the 20 computers for education are available from 8.45am to 11.25am and 12.45pm to 3.25pm. The two computers in the library are available during the following times (dependant upon prisoner recreation time):
Monday to Friday:
9.00am to 11.30am, 1.00pm to 3.30pm, for prisoners on days off work.
4.00pm to 5.00pm for all prisoners.
Weekends and Public Holidays:
9.30am to 11.30am, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, 4.00pm to 5.00pm for all prisoners.
(f) Yes
(g) Not applicable
(8)(a) Yes
(b) [See tabled paper no.]
(c)(i) The Commissioner will make it available to OICS.
(ii) Not applicable
(iii) The survey commenced in October.
(9) The Department's response to recommendation 20 does not relate to mothers.
(10)(a) The provision of computers and access to word software. The Department is continuing to look at ways to provide assistance.
(b) These changes have already been implemented.
(11)(a) Yes, the Department will provide this to OICS.
(b) Not applicable
(12)(a) Nil. There is no revised response.
(b)(i)-(ii) Appointment request data per prisoner is not available.
(c)(i) Clinical Nurse Manager - 1 FTE
Nurses- 7.81 FTE which allows for 3x 12/7 nurses.
Doctors- funded for 2.0 FTE to provide for 14 patient contact sessions per week. Currently receiving on average ten sessions per week.
Co-Morbidity - Three full time staff covering 10/7, and four psychiatry sessions per week.
(ii) Clinical Nurse Manager - 1 FTE.
Nurses (Outpatients) - 7.0 FTE which allows for 3x 12/7.
Nurses - (Infirmary) - 10.0 FTE this allows for 2x 24/7.
Doctors- funded for 3.0 FTE to provide for 21 patient contact sessions per week. Currently receiving 19 sessions per week.
Co-Morbidity - 3.5 full time staff covering 10/7 and ten psychiatry sessions per week.
(13) North Metro Area Health Service (NMAHS) is the nominated provider for this contract. The Department continues to communicate with NMAHS with respect to obtaining a start date for the service however has not yet received a confirmed start date. It should be noted that the service is provided by an external body (NMAHS) and managed by Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS).
(14)(a) Nil
(b) Expected number is 17.
Cultural Training is contracted out to the Aboriginal Council of Health WA (ACHWA) to provide the service. All regional areas have been completed and the Department is awaiting the ACHWA schedule to commence metro area training. A Department representative is meeting with ACHWA on 21 November 2011 in this regard.
(15)(a) For the quarter 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2011, there were 1370 occasions of service undertaken by the co-morbidity team with 249 distinct individuals. A snapshot taken on 7 November 2011 indicated 67 (29%) distinct individuals were being managed for a major mental illness, by the co-morbidity team. A further 50 (21%) distinct individuals with a less acute mental illness were being managed by the primary care team on the same day.
(b) In the "Health and Wellbeing of Adults in Western Australia, Overview and Trends" report 2011, 9.2% of all women interviewed were being treated for a mental health problem . This compares to a total of 50% of female offenders being treated for a mental illness while in Bandyup.
(c) No. The Crisis Care Unit is only used in an emergency and then only for a short period.
(d) No. As the unit is not staffed by clinical staff, the Crisis Care Unit could not be considered a therapeutic environment for people who have a mental health issue.
(e) The Department has nominated a unit where prisoners who are considered vulnerable can reside. However, no resources are currently available to advance this recommendation further.
(16) All medical practitioners, including the "on call" doctor can access the Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MERL) on a 24/7 basis or can contact the Emergency Department of their local hospital for advice and support, where urgently required.
(17)(a) No
(b) From February 2008 to December 2010 the Department supplied prisoners with free nicotine replacement patches (NRT) as part of the Department's initiative to have reduced smoking in prisons. Nominated health and custodial staff from each site completed Fresh Start Training with Cancer Council WA to enable them to conduct smoking cessation groups to assist patients to quit. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) was to be used in conjunction with group attendance over six consecutive weeks - one hour per week approximately.
The groups were not widely successful, as attendance and motivation of participants was limited and coupled with time constraints of staff. Most importantly the replacement therapy was abused by prisoners and was being used to supplement their nicotine intake. Due to the ongoing abuse of NRT, limited motivation of patients in engaging and no obvious health outcomes, the free patches were ceased on 1 January 2011.
(c) A health promotion day entitled "check out for women's health" was held earlier in the year. Health promotion and education is undertaken as part of ongoing one on one consults. All prisoners have access to the Quitline via the prisoner telephone system, free of charge.
(18)(a)-(b) There are no current discussions taking place.
(19) The prison is locked down each Friday morning to allow training to take place on the site. In addition, if staff are required to attend the Academy, training is arranged during the non-leave period or overtime is made available.
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