Miriam Merten death: Inquiry into mum’s horror hospital death ‘buried’

AN inquiry into mental health launched following the release of footage of a mother-of-two dying after being dumped drugged and naked in a seclusion room has been “buried”.

• Lismore Base Hospital horror: ‘I wasn’t told how mum died’
• Why was mum Miriam Merten left to die?

A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into mental health launched after The Daily Telegraph exposed sickening footage of a mother-of-two dying after being dumped drugged and naked in a tiny seclusion room has been “buried” by the government.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Mental Health Minister Tanya ­Davies have been accused of “hiding” the inquiry by tacking it on to a little publicised and already existing Public Affairs Committee inquiry.

HAVE YOUR SAY HERE: Inquiry into the Management of Health Care Delivery in NSW

The inquiry doesn’t mention mental health in its terms of reference and submissions close in just 10 days. There has also been no government advertising.

Mental health patient Miriam Merten died in Lismore Hospital after being left drugged and naked. The Daily Telegraph obtained the shocking CCTV footage of her movements before she died.

Families who have lost loved ones in the mental health system yesterday said they had “no idea” the inquiry was even happening.

And The Daily Telegraph can ­reveal that so far the inquiry has ­received just two extra submissions since its scope was broadened to ­include mental health issues.

Mr Hazzard and Ms Davies ­announced the inquiry into the Management of Health Care Delivery would be extended after The Daily Telegraph exposed the appalling footage of Miriam Merten dying of an acquired brain injury at the Mental Health Unit at Lismore Base Hospital in 2014.

The horror footage Ms Merten staggering up and down the hospital corridor for more than hour covered in faeces and blood.

Minister for Mental Health Tanya Davie. Picture: Bob Barker

Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

Opposition Mental Health spokeswoman Tania Mihailuk said a stand alone mental health inquiry was necessary. She said she had written to the chair of the committee, Liberal MP Bruce Notley Smith, asking him to extend the submission closing date and set dates for public hearings in Lismore and rural NSW.

Labor’s Health spokeswoman Tania Mihailuk.

Kirstie and Michael Raftery’s 18-year-old daughter Ahlia took her own life in Newcastle’s Mater Mental Health Centre in March 2015.

Ms Raftery said she had “no idea” there was currently a parliamentary inquiry. Mr Raftery called for a stand-alone mental health inquiry.

Ms Davies said the committee ­operates independently and the government could not direct “where or how” it operates. “The powers of this parliamentary inquiry are far reaching and it will be able to scrutinise the mental health system to the highest degree,” she said.

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Originally published as Miriam Merten death: Inquiry into mum’s horror hospital death ‘buried’