Strict guidelines for admissions to Graylands Hospital

14/3/93

Health Minister Peter Foss will establish strict guidelines on the type of patient admitted to the new maximum security unit at Graylands Hospital.

Mr Foss said the local community would be given the opportunity to comment on the guidelines before they were implemented.

The partially completed multi-million dollar unit has been at the centre of concerns by local residents that dangerous prisoners would be moved from prison and incarcerated permanently at the hospital.

After inspecting the unit with the Resources Minister and member for Cottesloe, Colin Barnett, Mr Foss said that for the time being, there would be no change in the type of patient now admitted to the hospital.

He said the high-security, high-tech facility would be used to treat prisoners with psychiatric problems.

"The guidelines will ensure that patients transferred from prison to the unit will be admitted to receive treatment for their psychiatric condition, not just incarcerated there," Mr Foss said.

"I will formulate the guidelines, with advice from health professionals, and they will be open for public comment before they are implemented.

"The hospital management say they have no intention of admitting any maximum security patients to the new unit before such guidelines are set, and until staff have had the opportunity to familiarise themselves properly with the high-tech facility," he said.

"I believe that when put in place, the guidelines will satisfy the concerns of the local community and allow the hospital to continue its good work in treating psychiatric patients in a therapeutic environment."

Media contact: Jeanne Klener (09)325 8655/222 9595