Husband welcomes probe into operations at mental health unit

A Brisbane man has slammed the mental health care his wife received at a Brisbane hospital now being probed over three patient suicides.

Steven Morris with his wife

A Brisbane man has slammed the care his wife with active suicidal ideations received at Brisbane’s The Prince Charles Hospital Mental Health Service, as an independent review has been ordered into the unit following three patient suicides there in 16 months.

Steven Morris said he has no faith in the mental health facility and claims his complaints were fobbed off when he spoke out that his wife had not completed her treatment and he had deep fears she could take her life.

He said he welcomes a probe into the unit.

The woman fell into a suicidal state following the trauma of her baby being born alive after an abortion and being and left alone for seven minutes before dying.

“In June of last year she became suicidal due to reliving the trauma with what happened with baby Xanthe and was admitted to TPCH with active and passive suicidal ideations,” Mr Morris said.

“After a weekend, we were informed suddenly on the Monday that she would be discharged that day, as both medical and mental health felt she was stable, despite the fact that she was still expressing suicidality that day.

“When I raised it with both nursing and medical staff, my concerns were dismissed.

“Less than 70 hours after discharge my wife was trying to throw herself into traffic, and required both Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland police to escort her back to hospital.

“Due to the nature of her illness, she ended up in psychiatric intensive care unit.”

He said his wife also climbed a tree, from which she fell.

In relation to the incident Metro North Hospital and Health Service told The Courier-Mail at the time that where patients expressed concern about their experience, the service worked with them to reach a resolution.

But the specific case could not be discussed.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Queensland branch head Professor Brett Emmerson said he was concerned about the $330m shortfall in funding the mental health sector needs.

He said that the state needs 370 more beds and as many as 3000 more mental health staff within the community.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has confirmed that the investigation into TPCH mental health service will report findings within a couple of months.

“The hospital and health service has taken the position that they want to look systemically across the model of care,” she said.