He’s just a boy: Calls for youth mental health unit after child is admitted to Cairns’ adult psychiatric unit
A child has been forced to spend at least two nights with some of Cairns’ most mentally disturbed criminals inside a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.
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A child has been forced to spend at least two nights with some of Cairns’ most mentally disturbed criminals, outraging health workers across the sector and prompting calls for additional youth services to be established urgently.
The revelation follows Cairns Hospital management issuing verbal and written warnings to staff after whistleblowers exposed incidents of patients’ illicit drug use and violence against frontline workers within its Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.
It’s understood the boy, whose age, personal information and when he was at the hospital cannot be revealed, could be heard crying in the hallways after being admitted to PICU, with the youth “yelling out” throughout the night.
PICU provides acute care to a wide range of adults, including “classified patients” from Lotus Glen prison.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to who’s been around him has had an emotional response to him being there,” a source, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
“It’s totally inappropriate. It’s more mentally damaging and disturbing for a young person to be there to start with.
“Not to mention he’s seeing adults around him behaving strangely.
“It’s not really the place for them. To see a child there is very worrisome, especially when he’s crying and yelling out.”
It’s not the first time a minor has stayed in the 24-hour ward as an inpatient.
The Cairns Post understands a girl under the age of 12 was admitted to PICU in 2022 with teenagers more recently having also been found on the ward.
“They are given a nurse the whole time they’re there, so someone that’s with them 24-7 to help mitigate any risk,” a source said.
“But it’s the other stuff they’re actually seeing and are exposed to while they’re there (that’s concerning).
“We’ve had two young females on the ward before with classified patients.
“We can have people with a background of sexual assault that are just walking freely amongst the rest of the patients.
“There have been times where we’ve had young people on the ward. It’s just not fair on the kids.”
The boy, who has complex health needs, spent one more night in another Cairns mental health unit before being flown to Brisbane for further treatment.
A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service spokesperson said a child could only be admitted into PICU under extreme circumstances and only with the approval of Queensland’s chief psychiatrist.
“Cairns Hospital does not have an adolescent mental health unit, so in some circumstances where it is clinically appropriate, children or adolescents can be admitted into our Acute Mental Health Unit – but only as a last resort,” the spokesperson said.
“This includes when a patient may be a danger to themselves or others.
“Consent is usually provided by a parent or legal guardian of the child or adolescent.”
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman was unavailable for comment but a government spokesperson said discussions to improve youth services in Far North Queensland were underway.
“Queensland Health is currently working with the Cairns and Hinterland HHS on a proposal for a youth mental health unit in Cairns,” Ms Fentiman said.
“Through the Miles Labor Government’s record $1.64 billion Better Care Together mental healthcare plan, over $320 million is being invested into mental health services for children, adolescents, and young people.
“This includes $47 million in 2023-24 to hire 181 additional clinicians at Headspace centres across Queensland, including in Cairns, to provide specialist care for people aged 12 to 25.”
The news comes following a major drugs scare inside the unit with Cairns health workers searching for narcotics after used and unused syringes were found in a common outdoor area.
A person familiar with the unit said methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant, was one of the drugs health workers suspected may have been smuggled in with patients “up all night” recently.
Some inpatients have been asked to supply voluntary urine samples.
UNIT DELAYED
Cairns Hospital’s $70m mental health unit has been held up yet again with the facility not expected to be operational till early 2025 – meaning the project will be almost three years overdue upon completion.
Despite hopes the unit would open later this year, the desperately needed 53-bed service is now expected to admit its first patients around January with construction to be completed prior to December.
It’s understood that progress on the new mental health unit has been hampered by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, and high rainfall that has hit the area in recent months.
In a statement, Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman also responded to reports of illicit drug use and patients attacking health workers within the hospital’s mental health unit.
“Our staff are the backbone of Queensland’s health system and they deserve to be safe at work,” Ms Fentiman said.
“We have zero tolerance for occupational violence, which is why it’s a serious offence under the Criminal Code to assault public officers, including health service employees.
“Unfortunately, there are still thousands of reported incidents of occupational violence every year in Queensland.
“That’s why our government was the first in the nation to permanently fund an Occupational Violence Strategy Unit.
“Staff working in the Mental Health Unit are also provided with additional, more intensive training.”
In addition to a 10 bed Mental Health Intensive Care unit, the new facility will include a range of features to provide better care for patients, including a sensory modulation room to avoid the escalation of violent behaviour.
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Originally published as He’s just a boy: Calls for youth mental health unit after child is admitted to Cairns’ adult psychiatric unit
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