By Henrietta Cook
Disabled and mentally ill Victorians have been abused, neglected and assaulted, with two patients left languishing in an emergency department for more than six days while another was shackled for 24 hours.
In one case, a female patient with mental health issues was dragged by her ankles by a nurse at Dandenong Hospital and suffered carpet burn across her shoulders.
Community Visitors - which inspect accommodation for the disabled and the mentally ill on behalf of the Public Advocate - has painted a grim picture of Victoria's supported residential services, mental health and disability sectors in its latest annual report.
It reported 209 cases of abuse, neglect and assault, up from 183 incidents the year before.
A male resident in disability accommodation was found in his bed one morning with his legs and groin covered in ants. In another case, a resident in disability accommodation was reportedly sexually assaulted by another resident.
Thirty-nine people absconded from an acute mental health unit at Bendigo Hospital, including one patient who was hit by a car and suffered serious head injuries.
The report, which was tabled in State Parliament on Tuesday, raised concerns about respite houses being used for long periods of time and children as young as 12 being placed among adults
Acting Public Advocate Dr John Chesterman called on the state government to provide more permanent and supported accommodation for people with a disability and mental illness. ''All Victorians have a right to a permanent home, and the chance to develop meaningful relationships.''
Mentally ill Victorians were left languishing in emergency departments with two patients waiting 160 hours. ''Clearly, in these cases the four-hour target was not met,'' the report said.
It said one mentally unwell patient experienced swelling and bruising to her wrists after being shackled for 24 hours in Sunshine Hospital's emergency department.
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Wade Noonan said the Napthine government had driven the health system to a point of crisis.
A government spokesman said the report acknowledged many areas of good practice, and also highlighted long-standing challenges across supported residential services, mental health and disability sectors.