Man’s care costs $1m a year

It is costing the public healthcare system almost $2500 a day to keep Ashley Peacock locked up, despite human rights concerns and his family’s wish for his release.

Peacock, who is a compulsory patient under the Mental Health Act, is an intellectually disabled, autistic and mentally ill man who has spent five years at a Porirua facility.

Capital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) told Parliament’s health select committee in February it was spending about $750,000 a year to keep Peacock in the facility. But an Official Information Act response from the health board reveals the total cost to the taxpayer is much higher.

CCDHB said Gisborne-based Tairawhiti DHB also contributed $183,000 a year to Peacock’s care, taking the total to over $900,000.

The money was spent predominantly on staffing and direct

"Instead of locking up that man ... [they] should find a solution that's going to work better." Julie Anne Genter, Green Party

patient care costs, such as laundry and food. About $762,000 was spent on staff wages, CCDHB said.

Health board staff said at theselect committee hearing that Peacock was a particularly highrisk patient.

When asked for a breakdown of assaults by him on his care providers or visitors, CCDHB alleged 29 incidents between January 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017, in its Official Information Act response, although it did not provide detail.

Dr John Crawshaw, the Health Ministry’s director of mental health, said it recognised the ‘‘significant’’ level of investment in Peacock’s care, and continued to liaise with the boards about his ongoing needs.

Peacock’s parents have long lobbied for his release into the community. They will present a petition asking Health Minister Jonathan Coleman to intervene in his case at a meeting today.

Green Party health spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter said there did not appear to have been any progress on a proposed transition plan out of the facility recommended for Peacock.

‘‘Instead of locking up that man ... [they] should find a solution that’s going to work better for him, and his family, and the people looking after him.’’