❓ Hon. Ravlich questions the Minister for Mental Health regarding commitments made about smoking policy in mental health units, specifically concerning nurse input and cabinet submission progress. The Minister acknowledges delays and ongoing consultations.
AnsweredQoN 47Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL
HEALTH UNITS — SMOKING POLICY
47. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the minister's meeting in December 2011
with mental health nurses who are United Voice members, at which the minister
discussed the current ban on smoking in secure mental health units. I am
advised that the minister made two commitments at that meeting. The first commitment
was that she would take a proposal to cabinet in February to allow involuntary
patients to smoke outdoors in designated smoking areas; and, secondly, that the
mental health nurses who attended that meeting would have input into the policy
group making the recommendations on the new smoking policy. Given these
undertakings, I ask —
(1) Why has no arrangement been made for the nurses to have
input into that policy group?
(2) Why has there been no information on the progress of the
minister's cabinet submission?
HEALTH UNITS — SMOKING POLICY
47. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the minister's meeting in December 2011
with mental health nurses who are United Voice members, at which the minister
discussed the current ban on smoking in secure mental health units. I am
advised that the minister made two commitments at that meeting. The first commitment
was that she would take a proposal to cabinet in February to allow involuntary
patients to smoke outdoors in designated smoking areas; and, secondly, that the
mental health nurses who attended that meeting would have input into the policy
group making the recommendations on the new smoking policy. Given these
undertakings, I ask —
(1) Why has no arrangement been made for the nurses to have
input into that policy group?
(2) Why has there been no information on the progress of the
minister's cabinet submission?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2)
I had a very productive meeting with the United Voice members; I think most of
them were nurses. Some members of the policy group were present at that meeting
and they assisted in broadening awareness about the complexity of what we are
attempting to do in changing the regulations around smoking. In particular, they brought to our attention
issues concerning involuntary patients who agree to stay in hospital in the
least restrictive environment; that is, not in a secure unit but on an open
ward. It is fair to say that I mentioned to the nurses that I had hoped to take
the new regulations to cabinet in February, but that has not yet happened. As
recently as last week a further opinion and options were presented to me to
consider. Nevertheless, whichever way we move we will still require advice from
the State Solicitor—that is another step that has to be taken—around
potential government liability arising from the sorts of changes we are looking
to make. In the meantime I have also met with clinicians from across the
metropolitan area. I can assure the member that at the moment there are very
flexible arrangements in place. However, I do not believe that is good enough
for either the workers or the patients. This is still moving forward. Today,
the Minister for Health, Dr Kim Hames, and I attended a breakfast with senior
executives of the Department of Health. We were asked questions by members of
staff who were present. Both Dr Hames and I were very clear that this is a
change that needs to take place. Whilst it has not come to fruition at this
stage, please be assured that it is progressing. It is taking a little longer
than we expected.
(1)–(2)
I had a very productive meeting with the United Voice members; I think most of
them were nurses. Some members of the policy group were present at that meeting
and they assisted in broadening awareness about the complexity of what we are
attempting to do in changing the regulations around smoking. In particular, they brought to our attention
issues concerning involuntary patients who agree to stay in hospital in the
least restrictive environment; that is, not in a secure unit but on an open
ward. It is fair to say that I mentioned to the nurses that I had hoped to take
the new regulations to cabinet in February, but that has not yet happened. As
recently as last week a further opinion and options were presented to me to
consider. Nevertheless, whichever way we move we will still require advice from
the State Solicitor—that is another step that has to be taken—around
potential government liability arising from the sorts of changes we are looking
to make. In the meantime I have also met with clinicians from across the
metropolitan area. I can assure the member that at the moment there are very
flexible arrangements in place. However, I do not believe that is good enough
for either the workers or the patients. This is still moving forward. Today,
the Minister for Health, Dr Kim Hames, and I attended a breakfast with senior
executives of the Department of Health. We were asked questions by members of
staff who were present. Both Dr Hames and I were very clear that this is a
change that needs to take place. Whilst it has not come to fruition at this
stage, please be assured that it is progressing. It is taking a little longer
than we expected.
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