Mental health: almost 700 complaints in three years

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This was published 10 years ago

Mental health: almost 700 complaints in three years

By Tony Moore

There have been 681 complaints about mental health care in Queensland in the past three years, the latest data from Queensland’s Health Quality and Complaints Commission shows.

More than 40 per cent of those complaints involved mental health units in public hospitals.

Among the 681 complaints were 112 incidents in which a mental health patient either died, committed suicide or received ‘‘serious harm’’.

Fairfax Media has been reporting on the state of Queensland mental health care in the wake of Brisbane coroner John Lock recommending major changes at Princess Alexandra Hospital’s East and West Wing mental health units.

The coronial inquest focused on the suicide of two patients from the unit but noted there had been at least 10.

On Tuesday a former patient emailed Fairfax Media alleging she was assaulted by sexually assaulted by male patients while she was being treated at the Princess Alexandra Hospital mental health unit in July 2010.

The woman, now living in Melbourne, said she lodged a complaint with the HQCC, and also reported the assault to nurses, but they did not report it to doctors.

‘‘Long-term male forensic patients are in the West Wing alongside vulnerable females," she wrote. "The place had a culture of intimidation and violence.

‘‘I believe it was a failure of duty of care by the hospital, and they should have followed it up when I was unable to.’’

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However, a Metro South Health spokeswoman insisted the complaint about the alleged assault was recorded and it was investigated by police who did not find enough evidence to lay charges.

The organisation has previously pointed out the PA mental health unit meets all national guidelines.

Queensland’s Health Minister Lawrence Springborg last week announced a review of the clinic would begin.

On Tuesday he also announced the creation of a new Queensland Health Ombudsman in the wake of damning reports about malpractice and patient complaint management.

The HQCC says most mental health complaints are against public hospitals. It found that between June 2009 and July 2012:

  • 43 per cent of complaints were about public hospital mental health services
  • 30 per cent of complaints were about services provided by private practitioners
  • 16 per cent of complaints were about community mental health services
  • 7 per cent of complaints were about private inpatient services

Fifty-one cent of complaints were from Brisbane, 11 per cent from the Gold Coast, six per cent from Wide Bay and five per cent from both the Sunshine Coast and Northern Queensland areas.

‘‘This is broadly consistent with the proportion of the Queensland population residing in these areas,’’ HQCC manager Liz Kearins said.

The most common complaints were inadequate treatment (41.2 per cent), inadequate communications (20.7 per cent) and inadequate medication (11 per cent).

The complaints included failures to check on medication, failure to check on hoarding medication and disatisfaction with discharge and transfer of care.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said police too frequently returned patients with a mental illness to hospitals, only to attend to scene of their suicide later.

‘‘At the end of the day there are people who have pyschological injuries or illness, which need treatment and I am not convinced that the health system caters for these people,’’ he said.

Mr Leavers said he believed a shortage of beds in hospitals and care facilities was at the core of the problem.

Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling Lifeline 131 114, Mensline 1300 789 978, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.

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