Psychs warn no end in sight for mental health patients stuck in limbo

Queensland’s top psychiatrists have taken aim at the practice of sedating mental health patients while the government claims they are a priority.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland’s top psychiatrists warn mental health patients will continue to be sedated so long as the state government refuses to invest in the 350 beds needed to offer proper clinical care.

As Health Minister Tim Nicholls backed the sedation of patients in short-stay hospital cubicles while they waited up to a week for a ward bed, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Queensland chair Brett Emmerson said government commitment to mental health is “all talk”.

“The current government has no plans to build the required new beds, so the problem remains and it is both the patients and the staff who suffer,” Prof Emmerson said.

“Unfortunately mental health is not a true priority for either side of politics.

“They claim it is, but the facts show it is all talk.”

Following claims by nurses that mental health patients who present to emergency departments are being medically sedated and placed in unsuitable areas while they wait up to seven days for a ward bed, Mr Nicholls said the sedation of some was a necessity for safety.

“Now, we don’t use mechanical restraints but often mental health patients, not all, are potentially going to be violent, cause harm to themselves or doctors and nurses,” he said.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Queensland chair Brett Emmerson

Prof Emmerson said that mental health services also do not have the staffing levels needed in acute care to operate around the clock.

“The current mental health plan is failing to support the teams that do the heavy lifting which are the acute care and continuing care teams covering child/youth/adults and older persons services,” he said.

The Psychiatry Supply and Demand Study found Queensland has a critical unmet workforce demand gap of 138.2 full-time equivalent psychiatrists, projected to grow to 229.4 FTE by 2048 — a 66 per cent increase over 25 years.

“The other issue which has impacted the acute care teams is that in the past their role was to see people in the community but with the focus on emergency department ramping, acute care staff have been required to the be more present in the ED without any staff increase so they are less available to see people in the community,” Prof Emmerson said.

RANZCP members are concerned that the closure of private hospitals is putting more strain on the public system.

The recent closure of Toowong Private Hospital in Brisbane means that 3000 patients annually now have to find care elsewhere.

Originally published as Psychs warn no end in sight for mental health patients stuck in limbo