Ministerial Statement

Oakden Mental Health Facility

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS (Taylor—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS: I rise again to update the house on developments at the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Service. I can inform the house that I have today instructed the Chief Executive of SA Health to expedite the closure of the Makk and McLeay wards at Oakden following further reports of unnecessary force being used on residents. The direction comes after I was advised last night of a further incident of unnecessary force involving a staff member towards a patient at the facility which occurred yesterday. The staff member has been stood down and reported to SAPOL. This incident is in addition to a further incident reported to the parliament yesterday.

While I did explore closing the Makk and McLeay wards immediately, I have since received clinical advice that moving residents twice would do serious harm to their wellbeing. Instead, further resources will be applied to the Northgate aged-care facility to expedite the completion of the works there, bringing forward the relocation of patients. While I have no doubt that the extra safeguards put in place at the facility following the Chief Psychiatrist's report have helped to detect and respond to the latest incidents, they have not prevented them. Therefore, I have asked the CE of SA Health to increase the level of staffing, supervision and oversight until the Makk and McLeay wards are closed in coming weeks.

The relocation of residents will be subject to consultation with their families and next of kin, and the government will also take clinical advice and address commonwealth accreditation issues. Employees and their representatives will be consulted. Families of the current residents are being contacted today in regard to these developments. I can also update the house on staff numbers. My latest advice is that 11 staff are currently stood down pending further inquiries and investigation, and 25 staff have now been reported to AHPRA. I reiterate that this government has a zero tolerance approach to elder abuse in this state and we will not stand for it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Finniss and Schubert and the leader and the deputy leader. I warn for the first time the members for Finniss and Schubert, and I warn for the second and final time the member for Finniss.