Advocates are calling for “appropriate housing” for people with complex disability needs, after Northside beds were closed to house an autistic teenager for 12 weeks.
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Speak Out Advocacy said that case was not the first time Launceston General Hospital’s acute adult mental health ward was “inappropriately” used to house a person with a disability.
A state government spokesman said 900 homes would be built around the state, including in the North and North-West, as part of the Affordable Housing Strategy.
He said they would have a universal design capable of being modified for people with disabilities.
The Launceston teenager is now living in a purpose-built unit at Latrobe.
“Putting people into inappropriate settings is traumatic for everyone,” advocate Dominique Vittori said.
“It causes distress for the person and the family, and escalates the trauma of the situation. Good outcomes rely on planning and skilled support by people with expertise with complex needs, in a safe environment.”
Mr Vittori said he knew of at least three cases where Northside was used to house people with disabilities.
“People find themselves in hospital because there is nowhere else for them to go in Launceston.
“There is a high intensity unit in the North-West and in the South, but there’s nothing here. We want the situation to be addressed here, but also, there are not enough in the state in general.”
Health and Community Services Union assistant state secretary Robbie Moore said members had raised similar concerns on a number of occasions.
“The most recent occasion was the longest period, being over 12 weeks, and one of the real frustrations for our members was the fact that there was no communication to them at all on what was happening so there was obviously a lot of uncertainty,” he said.
“Beyond that, the effect it was having on the entire health system, in that, obviously it was inappropriate care for that person, but also it had an impact because the beds were closed for mental health patients, meaning they were trapped in emergency departments for extended times.”
The government spokesman said the rollout of the NDIS would also increase options for people living with disabilities, including increased accommodation options.