❓ Hon. Ravlich questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding the Stokes report findings on inadequate risk assessments for mental health patients. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines prior involvement and ongoing efforts to address risk management.
AnsweredQoN 1045Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH — RISK ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS
1045. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to
the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the findings of the Stokes report, which shows
that 63 per cent of mental health patients did not have a proper risk
assessment.
(1) When did
the minister first become aware of this?
(2) Is the
minister concerned about it; and, if not, why not?
(3) What does
the minister intend to do about it?
1045. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to
the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the findings of the Stokes report, which shows
that 63 per cent of mental health patients did not have a proper risk
assessment.
(1) When did
the minister first become aware of this?
(2) Is the
minister concerned about it; and, if not, why not?
(3) What does
the minister intend to do about it?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
Of course I got the Stokes report, I think in September.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You got it in June.
Hon HELEN MORTON : No, I did not get it in June; i t
was delayed because Mr Stokes took a bit longer than expected because it was
very comprehensive. He interviewed over 900 people. He did very comprehensive
work, so it got to me a bit later than he initially anticipated, but that was
when I realised the extent of that problem. However, that is not to say that
the emerging issues of risk management were not known. It has been known for a
reasonable time. When I was in opposition, I recall taking up to the then
Minister for Health issues around the establishment of risk management in
emergency departments for young people. There was a parliamentary inquiry into
that, which I was involved in. Risk management in emergency departments was
well known by me back then. At the same time the Auditor General did a review
of risk management and the establishment of risk management policies and
procedures. He did a follow-up review three or four years—it might have
even been five years—after his initial review, which was done in 2001.
Risk management issues were ongoing in all those sorts of things. The whole
issue of risk management has been around since at least 2001. I was involved in
that in opposition. I am pleased to say that since we have been in government,
the issues around risk management have certainly come to the fore through the
Stokes review and will certainly be addressed in the work that is being done at
the moment on the implementation of the recommendations from that.
Of course I got the Stokes report, I think in September.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You got it in June.
Hon HELEN MORTON : No, I did not get it in June; i t
was delayed because Mr Stokes took a bit longer than expected because it was
very comprehensive. He interviewed over 900 people. He did very comprehensive
work, so it got to me a bit later than he initially anticipated, but that was
when I realised the extent of that problem. However, that is not to say that
the emerging issues of risk management were not known. It has been known for a
reasonable time. When I was in opposition, I recall taking up to the then
Minister for Health issues around the establishment of risk management in
emergency departments for young people. There was a parliamentary inquiry into
that, which I was involved in. Risk management in emergency departments was
well known by me back then. At the same time the Auditor General did a review
of risk management and the establishment of risk management policies and
procedures. He did a follow-up review three or four years—it might have
even been five years—after his initial review, which was done in 2001.
Risk management issues were ongoing in all those sorts of things. The whole
issue of risk management has been around since at least 2001. I was involved in
that in opposition. I am pleased to say that since we have been in government,
the issues around risk management have certainly come to the fore through the
Stokes review and will certainly be addressed in the work that is being done at
the moment on the implementation of the recommendations from that.
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