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Public put at risk as patients escape mental health units

MORE than 50 patients deemed a danger to society have absconded from Gold Coast mental health facilities in the past year.

The Annual Report of the Chief Psychiatrist, tabled in State Parliament, shows 52 patients had escaped from mental health units and another 60 inpatient absences had occurred on the Coast.

POLICE sources claim a dangerous criminal who posed a serious risk to the community twice escaped from Gold Coast University Hospital and had to be chased by officers.

Last financial year, out of 20 people admitted, two escaped and were listed as “absent without authority”.

A police source said the man who went missing from the University Hospital earlier this year was “f---ing bad”.

The officer said he thought more offenders were being sent to health facilities because there was less room at more high security facilities like Wacol prison.

“Recently, we’ve had one guy escape (from Gold Coast University Hospital) twice.

“He’s been charged by police … he’s there because of his mental health. It’s overloaded, the system.

“This guy is f---ing bad … he was put in for serious matters and he escaped. So (police) … caught him and he escaped again … (police) caught him again. They’re extreme high-risk people.”

A Gold Coast Health spokeswoman said only patients facing “less serious” charges were accepted for treatment at Gold Coast University Hospital.

“Gold Coast mental health services are suitable for those patients facing less serious charges or those nearing a time when they may be reintroduced into the community,” she said.

“The safe management of classified patients at risk of absconding continues to be a key focus and we’ve worked hard to keep our rate of absent without authority down.”

A Queensland Health spokesman said the organisation provided high-security care for some prisoners.

“Patients who are admitted to mental health inpatient services from watch-houses or correctional centres are detained for assessment or treatment,” he said.

“They may be returned to custody or discharged to the community with appropriate authority, for example, if granted bail. If there are particular concerns ... there is a specialist high-security facility where they can be treated.”