❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates the prevalence of mixed-gender mental health wards and the safety of female patients, revealing reported assault cases across different health services and mitigation strategies.
AnsweredQoN 4300Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What proportion of acute mental health wards in Western Australia are mixed gender wards; and
(a) is safety an issue for female patients in mixed gender wards?
(2) How many cases of assault of female patients in mixed gender mental health wards have been reported in the last two years?
(a) is safety an issue for female patients in mixed gender wards?
(2) How many cases of assault of female patients in mixed gender mental health wards have been reported in the last two years?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 February 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
98 days
NORTH METROPOLITAN AREA HEALTH SERVICE (NMAHS)
State Forensic Mental Health Service
(1) The State Forensic Mental Health Service (Frankland Centre) operates with only mixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned. Concerns about potential abuse and violence (to or from female patients) are assessed on admission and managed accordingly.
(2) There were 11 reported incidents of violence, assault, abuse or harassment involving female patients in the last 2 years. In 8 of these incidents, the perpetrators were female. In each case, the incidents were not considered serious enough to warrant referral to WA Police.
Adult Program
(1) The Swan Valley Centre and Ward D20 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital operate with only mixed gender wards.
The Graylands Hospital Campus has one dedicated female-only ward.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
Female patients at Graylands Hospital who are assessed as vulnerable are admitted to the female-only ward.
(2) There have been no reported assaults on female patients at the Swan Valley Centre, Ward D20 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital or Graylands Hospital in the last 2 years.
Older Adult Program (Osborne, Selby and Swan Lodges)
(1) The Osborne, Selby and Swan Lodges operate with only mixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing are assigned. Regular risk assessments and monitoring of aggressive and vulnerable patients mitigate risks.
(2) There have been no reported assaults of female patients in the last 2 years at Osborne Lodge and 4 and 5 reported cases at Selby and Swan Lodges, respectively. As all incidents and assaults were related to either cognitive impairment or delirium and non were premeditated, all reports were managed by the clinical service.
SOUTH METROPOLITAN AREA HEALTH SERVICE (SMAHS)
(1) The South Metropolitan Area Health Service facilitiesoperate with only
mixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
(2) There have been 6 reported cases of assault of female patients in the last 2 years. In each case, the incidents were not considered serious enough to warrant referral to WA Police.
WA COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICE (WACHS)
(1) The Western Australian Country Health Service facilities operate with onlymixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
(2) There have been 4 reported cases of assault of female patients in the last 2 years.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SERVICE (CAHS)
(1) Ward 4H at Princess Margaret Hospital is a mixed gender ward.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
2) There have been no reported cases of assault of female patients in the last 2 years.
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State Forensic Mental Health Service
(1) The State Forensic Mental Health Service (Frankland Centre) operates with only mixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned. Concerns about potential abuse and violence (to or from female patients) are assessed on admission and managed accordingly.
(2) There were 11 reported incidents of violence, assault, abuse or harassment involving female patients in the last 2 years. In 8 of these incidents, the perpetrators were female. In each case, the incidents were not considered serious enough to warrant referral to WA Police.
Adult Program
(1) The Swan Valley Centre and Ward D20 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital operate with only mixed gender wards.
The Graylands Hospital Campus has one dedicated female-only ward.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
Female patients at Graylands Hospital who are assessed as vulnerable are admitted to the female-only ward.
(2) There have been no reported assaults on female patients at the Swan Valley Centre, Ward D20 at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital or Graylands Hospital in the last 2 years.
Older Adult Program (Osborne, Selby and Swan Lodges)
(1) The Osborne, Selby and Swan Lodges operate with only mixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing are assigned. Regular risk assessments and monitoring of aggressive and vulnerable patients mitigate risks.
(2) There have been no reported assaults of female patients in the last 2 years at Osborne Lodge and 4 and 5 reported cases at Selby and Swan Lodges, respectively. As all incidents and assaults were related to either cognitive impairment or delirium and non were premeditated, all reports were managed by the clinical service.
SOUTH METROPOLITAN AREA HEALTH SERVICE (SMAHS)
(1) The South Metropolitan Area Health Service facilitiesoperate with only
mixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
(2) There have been 6 reported cases of assault of female patients in the last 2 years. In each case, the incidents were not considered serious enough to warrant referral to WA Police.
WA COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICE (WACHS)
(1) The Western Australian Country Health Service facilities operate with onlymixed gender wards.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
(2) There have been 4 reported cases of assault of female patients in the last 2 years.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SERVICE (CAHS)
(1) Ward 4H at Princess Margaret Hospital is a mixed gender ward.
(a) If any patient (male or female) is considered at risk, increased observation and one to one nursing can be assigned.
2) There have been no reported cases of assault of female patients in the last 2 years.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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