Page 55 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR HANSON: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, were you or your office aware that Mr Hodges was going to advise Ms Sattler that Tony Abbott was at the Lobby Restaurant? If not, what was the purpose of the phone call?
DR BOURKE: The purpose of the phone call—I refer to my previous answer—was to get a media contact. I was unavailable; he was referred to Ms Sattler.
MR HARGREAVES: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: My question to Dr Bourke is: did you engage in any of the arrangements at all around the tent embassy fiasco?
DR BOURKE: I refer to my previous answers to the question—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members!
DR BOURKE: I knew nothing about it until I got home and watched the news.
Opposition members interjecting—
Mr Hargreaves: I am not deaf, Mr Speaker. I am happy with that.
Mental health—services
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minister for Health and concerns patients with dual diagnosis being treated at the psychiatric services unit. Minister, there was a recent article in the media about a man with a mental illness and alcohol-related problems who was not admitted to the PSU and was sent back to court and was also unable to stay in a men’s shelter. Effectively, because he had dual diagnosis, he was not accepted at the PSU and the only place he could go was into custody. Minister, is the PSU required to acknowledge dual diagnosis and accept and admit patients who are experiencing a mental illness as the first issue requiring treatment?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Bresnan for the question. I have discussed this matter with the Health Directorate. The decisions about who is admitted to the psychiatric unit are clinical decisions made by the admitting officer. Not wanting to go into individuals necessarily, that is where it is appropriate for those decisions to be taken. At times people will not be happy with the psychiatric assessment, but there are often, and in my briefings around this matter, some good reasons why the psychiatric
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video