Security fears at forensic units
Secure Porirua facilities housing some of New Zealand’s most dangerous mental health patients have had ‘‘serious concerns’’ raised about their security systems.
Capital & Coast District Health Board’s (CCDHB) forensic Purehurehu and Tawhirimatea mental health units at Kenepuru Hospital currently have 45 patients and 107 staff.
Paranoid schizophrenic Richard Hawkins, who killed his brother in 2002, then stabbed a stranger at Waikanae railway station in 2015, was made a ‘‘special patient’’ at Purehurehu in 2016.
Andrew David Worden, who poured boiling water over the head of a sleeping Japanese tourist, had been housed there. He later escaped and was on the run for a week in 2004.
Public Service Association national secretary Glenn Barclay confirmed the union had raised its ‘‘serious concerns’’ with the health board, ‘‘with a view to urgent maintenance to ensure our members’ safety’’.
‘‘We understand the system is separate to the ones operating in other CCDHB facilities and that it is nearing the end of its life. We have heard anecdotal reports of failures, and we are concerned for the safety of our members, their patients and others using the hospital,’’ Barclay said.
‘‘We understand that a business case for replacing the system has been made, and the DHB’s preference is to fix the urgent issues with a view to an upgrade in the longer term.’’
The DHB’s addiction and intellectual disability services general manager, Nigel Fairley, said security systems at forensic units at Kenepuru and Ratonga Rua o Porirua were ‘‘functioning and operating as they should to ensure safety and security’’.
Purehurehu and Tawhirimatea are part of the Ratonga Rua o Porirua campus.
Security systems were upgraded and enhanced in 2016 and 2017, Fairley said.
‘‘A single stage business case is currently being considered for the comprehensive integration of the electronic security and monitoring network, across all mental health inpatient sites.’’
Stuff in 2017 obtained withheld health board minutes that showed the all-male Purehurehu unit was ‘‘no longer fit for purpose, does not comply with fire regulations, does not meet compliance for building code and does not meet best practice for mental health standards’’.
Fairley this week said that renovations and the build of the new acute wing at Purehurehu were now ‘‘well under way’’.