Page 4458 - Week 10 - Thursday, 23 September 2010
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MR HANSON: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, are you aware of any mental health community organisations who are advising their mental health clients that when they speak to the CATT they should threaten suicide, otherwise they will not receive adequate attention?
MS GALLAGHER: No, that has not been raised with me. I meet with the Mental Health Community Coalition and the Mental Health Foundation. I have the Ministerial Council on Mental Health, which I chair, and that has a representative from mental health organisations across the ACT, and it has not been raised with me at all.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Ms Le Couteur?
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, is it true that attendance by ACT Policing at a crisis situation involving a person with mental illness is more likely to lead to the use of force than if CATT attends?
MS GALLAGHER: I would have to take that on notice. I think what we would have to do is go back and have a look at the times when the police assist CATT in response and then compare it. But, again, they would be dealing with probably completely different situations. If CATT feels the need to have police assistance, then the clinical nature of that situation and the needs of that individual are probably different from the situations where CATT does not feel the need for police assistance. That would impact, I imagine, on some of the measures that those professionals would have to use to support individuals to get further assistance.
I will see whether we can give a snapshot of that. I am not sure how we would do it without creating a fair bit of work. But I will see whether I can provide any further assistance or information in that regard.
Canberra Hospital—obstetrics unit review
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, earlier this year, following serious concerns from staff, an inquiry into bullying and harassment at the obstetrics and gynaecology unit at the Canberra Hospital was ordered and has been conducted under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. Could you update the Assembly on whether the review has been finalised and, if not, when you expect it to be finalised?
MS GALLAGHER: I have not been advised that it has been finalised. I understand it is at that point where I would be advised. I would not be advised that it will be finalised, for example, in a couple of weeks. I have had no discussions with the department. Indeed, I have stayed right out of it. I presume when it is finished they will tell me. I am happy to share that information with the Assembly when I get it.
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