Nicky Stevens, who was a mental health patient within Waikato District Health Board region (Supplied)

Mental health debacles spark inspection

Author: Georgia Nelson ,
Publish Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015, 4:31PM

The Health Minister has ordered a formal inspection of Waikato District Health Board's mental health services.

Minister Dr Jonathon Coleman said the decision follows discussions with the Director General of Health and the Director of Mental Health.

He said the Director of Mental Health, Dr John Crawshaw will be assembling a team to support him with the inspection which will start this week.

The inspection and report is expected to take eight weeks.

This comes as the district heath board scrambles to track down around 25 mental health patients, treated by a psychiatrist who's been accused of identity fraud.

The man, who has name suppression, appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Saturday.

Labour MP Sue Moroney said there seems to be one issue after another.

"This is the latest of a long line of problems and mistakes being made in that unit, and it's time that there was a wide ranging review of mental heath services at Waikato DHB."

Waikato DHB mental health service incidents

March 9^th Nicky Stevens under compulsory care order at Henry Bennett Centre goes missing while on unescorted smoke break.

March 12^th Nicky Stevens found dead in Waikato River.

April 6^th -Pair with history of violence escape Henry Bennett Centre, Benjamin Manuel and Morgan Hamiora-Smith. Both inpatients of rehabilitation unit.

May 26^th Finnesse Kairau escapes Henry Bennett Centre, CCTV footage shows her leaving with her sister.

June 10^th Communications Director Mary Anne Gill resigns following restructure.

June 29^th Mental Health and Addiction Services group manager Jeff Bennett resigns.

July 25^th Former psychiatrist who worked for crisis, triage and home based treatment services appears in Hamilton District Court charged with fraud. He worked for DHB from Jan 19^th till July 17^th.

July 27^th DHB’s mental health services to be formally inspected by Director of Mental Health. Minister Jonathan Coleman says there have now been three high profile incidents this year and when you put them together it’s important for people to be assured about service standards.