Mental health probe widens
The alleged stabbing of a Christchurch woman by a mental health hospital patient has sparked a wider inspection of the adult mental health service and any ‘‘systemic or service issues’’.
The terms of reference for an inspection, under section 99 of the Mental Health Act, have been made public by director of mental health Dr John Crawshaw.
It follows a ‘‘serious incident’’ on June 25, where a patient subject to the Mental Health Act on leave from the service allegedly fatally stabbed a woman not known to him, he said.
‘‘This incident occurred in the context of concerns being raised about the safety and care being offered by these services,’’ Crawshaw said.
The victim, Laisa Waka, 52, was just metres from her home in Sockburn, on her way home from work, when she was allegedly stabbed by the patient.
A 37-year-old man, who has name suppression, was arrested nearby a short time later and charged with murder. Crawshaw said if the inspection determined there were no systemic or service issues, the public could be assured ‘‘on how the services are being run’’.
‘‘If issues are found, then recommendations will be made on how to address those issues.’’
A separate ‘‘full and independent review’’ into the care of the murderaccused was being led by Te Whatu Ora (the new national health agency), Crawshaw said.
‘‘Thus, while there might be some overlap this inspection is not a review into that individual’s care.’’
He said the inspection was not about identifying any ‘‘individual staff issues’’ but ‘‘scrutinising the functioning and resilience’’ of the adult inpatient service and associated mental health services.
Crawshaw, supported by a small team, would conduct the inspection to ensure there was a ‘‘comprehensive examination of the operational, clinical governance and functioning of the adult inpatient and associated mental health services’’.
The inspection would also consider how that governance was overseen by ‘‘wider organisational processes’’.
The review would involve data analysis, interviews with clinical and other staff, and a clinical file review.
A preliminary scoping inspection done on Wednesday and Thursday would determine the nature and scope of the full inspection.
Crawshaw said a full report would be published on the Ministry of Health website once the work was completed.
Waka’s grieving husband, Nemani Tunidau, earlier said he was angry that the man who allegedly killed her had been in the community. He was frustrated by the lack of information health officials had released about the case.