Downmans search for documents to help family member after years in mental health system

A Townsville family trying to help their relative get back on track after years in the mental health system say they have been refused information which could help them protect him.

Gaven Downman is hoping to gain more access to information to help a family member. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Townsville family trying to help their relative get back on track after years in the mental health system say they have been refused information which could help them protect him.

Brother and sister, Gaven and Patricia Downman say they have not been given access to some of his documents despite their requests.

The Downmans say the family member was deemed a minor in the 1990s after a diagnosis with schizophrenia. However, current documentation shows the family member has only been treated for his condition since 2010.

The Downmans started their quest for guardianship over their family member in 2020 and have slowly been trying to help them get back on track.

The brother and sister lost track of the family member after their grandmother died.

Since then, they have found a document they believe proves the family member had been deemed a minor, but the initial diagnosis is misplaced.

Another document showed there were paper files being stored at a Queensland Health facility, but according to the Townsville Hospital and Health Service, the documents are not stored in that facility.

When asked about the digitisation of previous medical histories, the health service chief executive Kieran Keyes said it began the transition to electronic medical records in 2008 with the implementation of the Consumer Integrated Mental Health and Addiction (CIMHA) application followed by the integrated Electronic Medical Record (ieMR) in March 2015.

“However, not all documents from before that period have been digitised. Medical records created prior to implementation of these systems have not been digitised due to the volume of records held,” Mr Keyes said.

“These records continue to be available to treating clinicians and for authorised release of information. Historical paper records may be digitised for clinical purposes, or if requested by an authorised officer.”

Mr Keyes added that clinical records can only be shared with Queensland Police with the consent of the patient after a warrant has been issued or in certain circumstances as authorised in the Memorandum of Understanding between Queensland Health and the Queensland Police Service.

The family have requested documents from before 2010, but have not handed over.

The Downman’s main concern is the family member’s condition could lead to the police being called following an episode and they would end up in the watch-house, rather than in a mental health facility.

Gaven Downman is hoping to gain more access to information to help a family member. Picture: Evan Morgan

Gaven and Patricia want their family members’ to either be close, or live with them to ensure they have a quality of life.

Gaven said they needed a full-time carer.

“There have been people who have been around in their house, but what it comes back to is full duty of care should have been left back to myself and Patricia,” he said.

“We know that it has been pretty rough on them. All we want is to be able to take them back, to make sure that they have some kind of safety.”

“I can’t even sleep at night knowing my family member is not protected in some way,” Patricia added. “I’m always worried about what if this, what if that …”

The Downmans believe that with full access to the files, they will be able to contest some of the provisions that have been put in place for the family member in order to ensure they have the best care in line with the designation as a minor.

One document the Downman’s did get their hands on showed multiple bank accounts had been opened in their family members name in the space of five years.

According to the family, the person should never have been allowed to open a bank account.

The bank in question was unable to show the family who had opened, or closed the accounts in the person’s name, due to privacy reasons.

The Downman’s have no idea how the bank accounts were opened.

The Downmans know an estate also exists in the family members name, however a letter shows the Public Trustee has no record of the estate.

The Public Trustee, who is the administrator of the family member’s affairs, is not permitted to disclose details of individual cases due to the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 and the Information Privacy Act 200.

“While we are unable to discuss individual cases, at all times we are willing to discuss customer matters directly with the customers involved and their guardians and support networks,” a spokeswoman said.

“We encourage any customers who have concerns about the Public Trustee’s decisions to make contact with their Trust Officer or the relevant Regional Manager.

“In our various roles, the Public Trustee is often called upon to resolve very complex financial, legal and personal arrangements for customers. As financial administrator, we endeavour to take all steps possible to ensure their financial entitlements.”

The Downmans have been in contact with the Public Trustee.

Originally published as Downmans search for documents to help family member after years in mental health system