❓ Hon. Alison Xamon questions the Minister for Health regarding the implementation of the 'Smoke Free WA Health System Policy' exemption for involuntary patients in mental health facilities, seeking clarification on the steps, timelines, and anticipated implementation date.
AnsweredQoN 825Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL
HEALTH FACILITIES — SMOKING POLICY
825. Hon
ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Minister for Mental Health's statement
of 19 September 2012, ''Smoke Free WA Health System Policy —
Partial Exemption'', and to the fact that the situation regarding
smoking has still not changed on the ground for involuntary patients in mental
health facilities.
(1) What steps
need to be undertaken before involuntary inpatients are permitted to smoke on
the grounds of mental health facilities?
(2) How long is each step referred to in (1) expected to
take?
(3) By what
date is it anticipated that involuntary patients in mental health facilities
will be permitted to smoke in designated smoking areas?
HEALTH FACILITIES — SMOKING POLICY
825. Hon
ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Minister for Mental Health's statement
of 19 September 2012, ''Smoke Free WA Health System Policy —
Partial Exemption'', and to the fact that the situation regarding
smoking has still not changed on the ground for involuntary patients in mental
health facilities.
(1) What steps
need to be undertaken before involuntary inpatients are permitted to smoke on
the grounds of mental health facilities?
(2) How long is each step referred to in (1) expected to
take?
(3) By what
date is it anticipated that involuntary patients in mental health facilities
will be permitted to smoke in designated smoking areas?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question. I am advised as follows —
(1) The
Department of Health is preparing a detailed implementation plan, which
includes: reviewing, updating and reissuing operational directive 0182/09;
reviewing the smoke-free policy's existing guidance documents;
reviewing and updating the content of WA Health's Smoke Free website;
reviewing and updating site-specific smoke-free guidelines; developing a new
operational guide to support mental health services to implement the partial
exemption to the WA Health system smoke-free policy; identifying potential
occupational health and safety issues and strategies for risk mitigation; and
identifying the ability of services to provide safe and secure outdoor smoking
areas for involuntary patients.
(2) The implementation plan will be completed by the end of
October 2012.
(3) It is
anticipated that most mental health services will be able to implement the
changes needed for the partial exemption by 1 December 2012. This exemption
applies to adult—over 18 years—involuntary patients only.
question. I am advised as follows —
(1) The
Department of Health is preparing a detailed implementation plan, which
includes: reviewing, updating and reissuing operational directive 0182/09;
reviewing the smoke-free policy's existing guidance documents;
reviewing and updating the content of WA Health's Smoke Free website;
reviewing and updating site-specific smoke-free guidelines; developing a new
operational guide to support mental health services to implement the partial
exemption to the WA Health system smoke-free policy; identifying potential
occupational health and safety issues and strategies for risk mitigation; and
identifying the ability of services to provide safe and secure outdoor smoking
areas for involuntary patients.
(2) The implementation plan will be completed by the end of
October 2012.
(3) It is
anticipated that most mental health services will be able to implement the
changes needed for the partial exemption by 1 December 2012. This exemption
applies to adult—over 18 years—involuntary patients only.
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