Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 1121

❓ A parliamentary question regarding a patient leaving Graylands Hospital and subsequent security concerns. The response disputes the characterization of the event as an 'escape' and states policies are under review.

AnsweredQoN 1121Legislative Assembly

Asked

19 June 2024

Member

Dr D.J. Honey

Portfolio

Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the escape of a patient from Graylands Hospital on 27th May 2023, and his subsequent threatening behaviour on the day, and I ask: (a) What were the security measures at the Hospital for involuntary patients as at 27 May 2023; (b) How did the patient bypass those security measures; (c) How long was he gone from Graylands Hospital before his disappearance was noticed; and (d) What changes have been made to the security measures and monitoring systems at the Hospital since 27 May 2023 to: (i) prevent the escape of involuntary patients; and (ii) identify such an escape quickly and report to police immediately?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

7 August 2024

Responded by

Minister for Health

Response time

3 days

(a – d) Security measures for involuntary patients, who are not a remanded or sentenced prisoner, on a Hospital Order or under the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 , are assessed on an individual basis. It is not correct to characterise the events the Member has referred to as an ‘escape’.
The policies and guidance for staff regarding patient access to the Graylands Hospital grounds are currently under review.

View on Parliament of WA