Carlingford stabbing: Hospital nurses speak out
NO STAFF and no beds, nurses at Hornsby Hospital say it was under immense stress the day an alleged child killer entered the psychiatric unit asking for help before he was allegedly refused voluntary admission.
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A HORNSBY Hospital mental health nurse has revealed the “immense stress” the hospital was under when it allegedly refused the voluntary admission of a man, two days before he was charged with the stabbing murder of his 5-year-old son.
The man, who has not been identified, allegedly murdered his son in their Carlingford home on Friday, June 9, stabbing him repeatedly as he lay in bed. He was later charged with murder.
The nurse spoke exclusively with the Hornsby Advocate about the conditions at the hospital, just days after Intensive Care Mental Health Unit nurses closed beds due to understaffing and risks to staff safety.
“If the man tried to voluntarily admit himself to the unit, I can tell you that there were just no beds and no staff to care for him,” the nurse said.
“On Wednesday last week, the whole hospital was a shambles, we had the Asquith stabbing incident with patients admitted, which resulted in an increased security presence and the mental health unit and the Emergency Department running over capacity.
It is understood the 36-year-old father attempted to voluntarily admit himself to the mental health unit on the same day as the Asquith stabbing incident occurred.
A Northern Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman said the matter was being investigated by police and a report was being prepared for the coroner.
“This is a shocking tragedy and Northern Sydney Local Health District extends its condolences to the family and friends of this little boy,” the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman denied claims beds in the unit were closed.
On May 28, staff in the mental health unit were forced to close beds due to consistent understaffing and poor skill mix issues, according to a representative of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.
“Last weekend we were forced to open previously closed beds in the mental health unit and one of our staff members, who was working alongside irregular casuals with no specific training, was savagely assaulted by a patient,” the nurse said.
“We had a number of violent patients in the hospital in the past week, which meant that others would be refused.”
Former Hornsby Hospital psychiatric patient Erin Howard, 34, said she has been refused care in the emergency care unit on five different occasions.
“When you are desperately reaching out for help and being refused it is terrifying,” Ms Howard said.
“The psychiatrist tell you that you are in need of help, but there is no beds to accommodate you.”
Ms Howard said the acute care team at Hornsby Hospital reach out to patients in the 24 hours after they present to the ward.
“In some cases this could be eight hours later and could be deadly for someone with suicidal thoughts,” the Wahroonga resident told the Advocate.
“I have presented Hornsby Hospital 15 times in my life, but I second guess myself when deciding whether I should, because I know they are understaffed and over capacity and could reject me.”
Ms Howard called on NSW Health to provide more localised funding to increase capacity and staff at Hornsby Hospital’s Mental Health Unit.
A long term nurse and NSWNMA council member explained how the assessment process for the man’s voluntary admissions would have taken place.
“If they present themselves to hospital, they are usually placed in a bed and a nurse from the Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre is called to conduct an assessment,” the nurse said.
“The centre conducts a medication review and assess’ their mental and physical state, if they are not medically cleared or have a medical problem the department will refuse to admit them.
“A psychiatrist is then called to make a final decision.”
The man accused of the stabbing, allegedly told police he believed his son was “the devil” in a lengthy interview, appearing on screen from Amber Laurel jail, he asked where he was and was unresponsive during questioning.
Police superintendent for Hills Shire Rob Critchlow said the man was known to police, but had no recent violent criminal history and a police source confirmed Family and Community Services had not been involved with the family.
The man accused of the stabbing, allegedly told police he believed his son was “the devil” in a lengthy interview, appearing on screen from Amber Laurel jail, he asked where he was and was unresponsive during questioning.
Police superintendent for Hills Shire Rob Critchlow said the man was known to police, but had no recent violent criminal history and a police source confirmed Family and Community Services had not been involved with the family.
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