Coroner again questions the efficiency of the State’s mental health system

A TASMANIAN coroner has again questioned the efficiency of the State’s mental health system as he handed down his findings into the death of a man who was unable to access care.

A TASMANIAN coroner has again questioned the efficiency of the State’s mental health system as he handed down his findings into the death of a man who was unable to access care.

Coroner Simon Cooper said the case of Mr B, was not the first example of someone with mental illness dying in Tasmania because they could not access adequate treatment.

“It is difficult to imagine a person suffering from a physical ailment as serious as the psychiatric illness Mr B was suffering from being unable to access appropriate treatment,” Mr Cooper said.

“A civilised society has a duty to ensure proper treatment is provided to anyone suffering a medical condition whether physical or psychiatric.”

The 35-year-old died 10 days after he was discharged from St Helen’s Private Hospital in Hobart.

In the four days leading up to his death, on January 20, 2014, Mr B’s father had repeatedly pleaded for him to be readmitted but with no success.

“It is clear that Mr B and his family were crying out for assistance in the immediate lead-up to his death but none was provided,” Mr Cooper said.

The coroner found the single, unemployed man had significant issues relating to substance abuse and secondary depression sometimes accompanied by secondary psychosis.

He was a patient of Hobart psychiatrist David Weidmann and had also been diagnosed with an obsessive compulsive disorder and a panic disorder.

Mr B’s father rang St Helen’s Hospital and Dr Weidmann in a bid to have his son admitted on January 16, 2014.

He was told there were no available beds and the admission needed to be authorised by the doctor.

Mr Cooper found the reason behind the refusal was an absence of staff, not beds.

More calls were made by Mr B’s father on January 18 and 19.

Dr Weidmann authorised Mr B’s admission for the next day but he took his own life the night before.

The health department was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Coroner again questions the efficiency of the State’s mental health system