hello @Grasshopper3
I saw you on here earlier and went to reply but system crashed. I rebooted and am back.
I also have gone back to page 1 of this thread and read yours and your beautiful son's story.
I personally would go down the path of speaking to someone higher up, advising them of the situation. Whilst it is not the fault of the staff that is no justification for patients receiving zero care and staff not turning up for appointments. If a patient under a CTO misses two appointments, the police turn up with said mental health team (who knows if they would in this situation) and the patient is then again detained under involuntary ITO in public hospital psychiatric ward. No option of being given time to explain why.
Rules are in place to protect both sides of the fence.
Below is an option for advising the top of the system that the system is not working.
Ring the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist:
The Chief Psychiatrist is an independent statutory officer who holds powers and duties as prescribed by the Mental Health Act 2014. The powers invested in the Chief Psychiatrist impose a governance responsibility over any Mental Health Service and other specified agencies that seek to influence the delivery of mental health treatment and care to the Western Australian Community.
The Chief Psychiatrist is supported by a Deputy Chief Psychiatrist and a team of staff who assist in the discharge of his statutory responsibilities whilst ensuring the rights of people with lived experience of mental illness are upheld. Central to these duties is the responsibility for the treatment and care of patients of Mental Health Services, and the monitoring of standards of care delivered throughout the State.
The Chief Psychiatrist reports to the Minister for Mental Health and provides advice to the Minister for Mental Health about the provision of mental health services for the State.
The current Chief Psychiatrist of Western Australia is Dr Nathan Gibson, who has served in the role since January 2013.
Role of the Chief Psychiatrist
Under the Mental Health Act 2014 (the Act) the Chief Psychiatrist is responsible for the treatment and care of all Involuntary patients, Mentally Impaired Accused (MIA) persons detained in an authorised hospital, persons referred under section 26(2) or (3)(a) or 36(2) and those under an order made under section 55(1)(c) or 61(1)(c), as well as all patients of the Mental Health Act 2014 designated mental health services. This responsibility must be discharged by publishing standards for treatment and care to be provided by mental health services and overseeing compliance with those standards.
The Chief Psychiatrist also has the following statutory responsibilities:
- Requests for reports
- Review of treatment
- Power of inspection
- Power of Disclosure
- Monitoring of notifiable incidents
- Preparation of an annual report
The Chief Psychiatrist is supported by a Deputy Chief Psychiatrist and a team of staff who assist in the discharge of his statutory responsibilities whilst ensuring the rights of people with lived experience of mental illness are upheld.
Contact Us
Dr Nathan Gibson
Chief Psychiatrist
Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Business Hours: 08.30am – 04.30pm Monday to Friday
Phone: (08) 6553 0000
Fax: (08) 6553 0099
Mail: GPO Box A5 Perth Business Hub WA 6849
Email contact:
