Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-15 Daily Xml

Contents

GLENSIDE HOSPITAL RURAL AND REMOTE UNIT

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (14:28): Since the review at the beginning of this year into absconding persons at Glenside was conducted, what operational changes have been made to reduce the incidence of patients absconding, and has there been any improvement in the numbers; that is, fewer of them?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:29): I believe that I have previously reported in this place a number of initiatives that were put in place around improving security and such like. I do not have those details with me today, but I believe that I have reported them here before. As I said, in terms of many clients using mental health facilities, not just those at Glenside, most of those clients, or many of them, are in fact voluntary and can choose not to continue treatment if they so desire. Our wish is always to re-engage those people and to keep them hooked into and participating in services. After all, people have rights.