❓ An update on the investigation into the assault on mental health staff at the Swan Valley centre is provided, including acceptance of recommendations and implemented safety changes.
AnsweredQoN 230Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister provide an update on investigations into the tragic events surrounding the assault on mental health nurse Debbie Freeman and social worker Chris Morley at the Swan Valley centre on 6 March 2004? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. As members are aware, on 6 March psychiatric nurse Debbie Freeman and social worker Chris Morley were brutally assaulted at the Swan Valley centre. As a result, Ms Freeman was in a very serious condition over a long period, and still is. Because of the assault, the Director General of the Department of Health requested a formal review by the chief psychiatrist. The review gave a description of all the circumstances leading up to, during and after the assault. It conducted a review of all the procedures involved, both by the police and the mental health authorities. It made 14 recommendations. I table a copy of the report by the chief psychiatrist dated 5 May 2004. [See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As members are aware, on 6 March psychiatric nurse Debbie Freeman and social worker Chris Morley were brutally assaulted at the Swan Valley centre. As a result, Ms Freeman was in a very serious condition over a long period, and still is. Because of the assault, the Director General of the Department of Health requested a formal review by the chief psychiatrist. The review gave a description of all the circumstances leading up to, during and after the assault. It conducted a review of all the procedures involved, both by the police and the mental health authorities. It made 14 recommendations. I table a copy of the report by the chief psychiatrist dated 5 May 2004. [See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. As members are aware, on 6 March psychiatric nurse Debbie Freeman and social worker Chris Morley were brutally assaulted at the Swan Valley centre. As a result, Ms Freeman was in a very serious condition over a long period, and still is. Because of the assault, the Director General of the Department of Health requested a formal review by the chief psychiatrist. The review gave a description of all the circumstances leading up to, during and after the assault. It conducted a review of all the procedures involved, both by the police and the mental health authorities. It made 14 recommendations. I table a copy of the report by the chief psychiatrist dated 5 May 2004. [See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
[See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. As members are aware, on 6 March psychiatric nurse Debbie Freeman and social worker Chris Morley were brutally assaulted at the Swan Valley centre. As a result, Ms Freeman was in a very serious condition over a long period, and still is. Because of the assault, the Director General of the Department of Health requested a formal review by the chief psychiatrist. The review gave a description of all the circumstances leading up to, during and after the assault. It conducted a review of all the procedures involved, both by the police and the mental health authorities. It made 14 recommendations. I table a copy of the report by the chief psychiatrist dated 5 May 2004. [See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. As members are aware, on 6 March psychiatric nurse Debbie Freeman and social worker Chris Morley were brutally assaulted at the Swan Valley centre. As a result, Ms Freeman was in a very serious condition over a long period, and still is. Because of the assault, the Director General of the Department of Health requested a formal review by the chief psychiatrist. The review gave a description of all the circumstances leading up to, during and after the assault. It conducted a review of all the procedures involved, both by the police and the mental health authorities. It made 14 recommendations. I table a copy of the report by the chief psychiatrist dated 5 May 2004. [See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
[See paper No 2323.] Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The safety of nurses and other staff is paramount. That is why the brutal attack has been so traumatic for fellow staff members. I believe it has touched the broader community as well. The Government will accept all 14 recommendations from the Chief Psychiatrist. Already significant changes have been undertaken at the Swan Valley centre to make the work environment safer for nurses. In answer to a question yesterday I referred to the upgrading of alarms, the installation of vision panels and other initiatives that have already been undertaken. Other safety initiatives will occur after a discussion with the staff. I acknowledge receipt yesterday of a letter from nursing staff at the centre, which was followed by a meeting with the management and staff there yesterday. I am told that although concerns remain, the staff are happy that these matters are being treated seriously and that significant changes will flow. I also expect that further changes will flow because of the involvement of WorkSafe in this matter. I assure nurses and other hospital staff that the Government understands the very difficult work environment in which they are called upon to operate. The Government will do everything it can to make sure that that work environment is made safe.
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