Jonathan Coleman MP
National Party Associate Health Spokesman

17 June 2008

Assurance sought on mental health services safety

Auckland District Health Board needs to move swiftly to reassure the public about the safety of Auckland City Hospital's Te Whetu Tawera unit, says National Party Associate Health spokesman Jonathan Coleman.

"The DHB needs to investigate the latest tragic episode at that unit and make the findings public as soon as possible. Families deserve that, and that is the first step towards restoring public confidence in mental health services in Auckland," says Dr Coleman.

He was speaking after the death of a patient at the unit last week.

"This latest tragedy follows on from a number of fatal incidents related to adult mental health services at the DHB last year, and a review by an independent panel that found 'unacceptably poor clinical judgment and practice' and highlighted a 'lack of appropriate leadership in medicine, nursing and management within Te Whetu Tawera’.

"The Auckland DHB should not seek to delay releasing the findings of the inquiry into this latest tragedy. The Auckland public, especially those who have family members in that unit, deserve an assurance that the safety issues highlighted in the independent inquiry have been addressed."

ENDS

© Scoop Media