❓ A parliamentary question regarding the treatment of Michelle Marks, a mental health patient, is met with a defensive response from the Minister, citing factual inaccuracies and privacy concerns.
AnsweredQoN 1034Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MICHELLE MARKS
I refer to the case of Michelle Marks, who suffers serious mental health issues and presented at emergency at Rockingham General Hospital on Friday, 11 November 2011 and subsequently went to Bunbury Mental Health Service. (1) Why was Michelle Marks kept in the emergency department of Rockingham General Hospital for 48 hours, and is this not in direct contravention of the government’s four-hour rule? (2) Why were there no available mental health beds in the metropolitan area? (3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the case of Michelle Marks, who suffers serious mental health issues and presented at emergency at Rockingham General Hospital on Friday, 11 November 2011 and subsequently went to Bunbury Mental Health Service. (1) Why was Michelle Marks kept in the emergency department of Rockingham General Hospital for 48 hours, and is this not in direct contravention of the government’s four-hour rule? (2) Why were there no available mental health beds in the metropolitan area? (3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(1) Why was Michelle Marks kept in the emergency department of Rockingham General Hospital for 48 hours, and is this not in direct contravention of the government’s four-hour rule? (2) Why were there no available mental health beds in the metropolitan area? (3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(2) Why were there no available mental health beds in the metropolitan area? (3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(1) Why was Michelle Marks kept in the emergency department of Rockingham General Hospital for 48 hours, and is this not in direct contravention of the government’s four-hour rule? (2) Why were there no available mental health beds in the metropolitan area? (3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(2) Why were there no available mental health beds in the metropolitan area? (3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(3) Why was Ms Marks’ de facto, Mr Evans, not consulted or informed by Rockingham General Hospital concerning the transfer of Michelle Marks to Bunbury Mental Health Service? (4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(4) Can the minister explain why Michelle Marks was released from Bunbury Mental Health Service four hours after admission and, had Mr Evans not contacted the minister’s office to intervene and ordered a taxi, would have been put on a bus by herself to go home? (5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(5) Has the minister commenced an investigation into the admission, treatment and discharge of Michelle Marks; and, if not, why not? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: (1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
(1)–(5) This is another occasion when much of what the member has said in her question is factually incorrect. It is the sort of occasion on which, had she made a phone call, I might have been able to give her some relevant information that might have assisted her so that she could have asked some questions that were more correct. I have been fully briefed about the many issues related to Ms Marks’ diagnosis, admission and discharge and her wishes in relation to her relationship with Mr Evans and her view on the current status of that relationship. Should the member seek some personal information—much of this question is about personal information—she needs to demonstrate that Ms Marks is happy and willing to have those personal details revealed. In the absence of a phone call from the member to me to clarify any aspects of this matter, and in the absence of anything to demonstrate that Ms Marks would like the member to have any of this information, my official response is that any decisions made about the clinical assessment and treatment of a patient are an operational matter. In this regard, the Department of Health must comply with any policy, regulation and legislative requirements. With regard to contact made by my office, any information received is directed to the appropriate mental health service.
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