❓ A parliamentary question regarding the death of Carly Elliott and the mental health services she received. The Minister responds with condolences and outlines actions taken, but doesn't directly answer the questions.
AnsweredQoN 1089Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CARLY ELLIOTT — DEATH
I refer to the death from probable suicide of 20-year-old Carly Elliott on 7 April 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) During the months of Carly’s interaction with Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre, how many face-to-face hours did Carly actually 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 in 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 from probable suicide of 20-year-old Carly Elliott on 7 April 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) During the months of Carly’s interaction with Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre, how many face-to-face hours did Carly actually 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 in 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 ↗
(1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(1) During the months of Carly’s interaction with Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre, how many face-to-face hours did Carly actually 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 in 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: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(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 in 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: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre in 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: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(1) During the months of Carly’s interaction with Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre, how many face-to-face hours did Carly actually 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 in 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: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(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 in 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: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(3) Can the minister confirm that over the six months that Carly was known to Fremantle Hospital and the Alma Street Centre in 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: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
(1)–(3) I would like, first of all, to make a comment about the tragic death of Carly and just indicate that I offer my sympathy to the parents. Whilst I heard the member state that she has permission to raise this matter with me, unfortunately I do not have anything to demonstrate that. Certainly, it has not been confirmed to me by the family. I can, however, confirm that I have received correspondence from Carly’s mother requesting a meeting to discuss these matters around her daughter’s very tragic death and in relation to the two reviews I have already announced. My office has been in contact to organise the meeting and I can absolutely assure the member that this matter will be taken very seriously and picked up as a matter of priority. I have to say, however, that in that contact with my office, the mother made the comment that she had subsequently had further information come to light about Carly’s contact and admission at Alma Street Centre. Also, the mother appeared in the conversation to have been incredibly worried about her daughter’s illness and death, and the tragedy of that death being discussed in this place in this way, and thought somehow that that had resulted from her contact with my office. I just wanted to make absolutely clear to Carly’s mother that at no time did any of the information that she provided to my office become public knowledge, so it is really quite disconcerting to me that this has occurred in this way. I say again that the contact with my office has been to assure the mother that this matter is being taken very seriously and that the issues she has raised with me are being treated as a priority.
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