House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-10 Daily Xml

Contents

Answers to Questions

GLENSIDE HOSPITAL

14 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010).

1. How many patients left Glenside Hospital without approval in 2008-09?

2. How many patients at the Glenside Hospital in 2008-09 were classified as acute, ICU, secure rehabilitation, drug and alcohol, peri-natal intermediate care and supported accommodation, respectively?

3. Were the public advised of any of the patients who left Glenside Hospital without approval in 2008-09 and if not, why not?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts): I am advised that:

1. There were 74 detained consumers that left Glenside Hospital without consent in 2008-09.

2. During the period 2008-09:

786 consumers were classified as acute.

293 consumers were classified as Intensive Care Unit patients.

34 consumers were classified as secure rehabilitation care patients.

There were no consumers at Glenside Hospital who received treatment for drug and alcohol issues alone, as Glenside Hospital is a mental health facility. There were mental health consumers with co morbidities of substance abuse at Glenside during the 2008-09 year.

100 consumers were classified as receiving peri-natal intermediate care.

There was no supported accommodation at Glenside Hospital.

3. When a consumer is absent from Glenside Hospital without approved leave, a report is lodged notifying South Australia Police that the person is missing. It should be noted that patients under mental health orders are not considered to be 'at large' in the criminal sense.

Senior mental health staff liaise with South Australia Police regarding whether the public be advised via a media release, based on an assessment of the level of the consumer's potential risk of harm to themselves or others. This level of risk and requirement for such intervention is rare. Specific South Australia Police intervention may be provided as required.

In most cases, consumers are returned to the Campus by South Australia Police without the need for public notification or assistance.

In 2008-09, there were no public notifications for missing consumers.