Three young people were admitted to the Launceston General Hospital due to a lack of crisis accommodation in the past six months, a Legislative Council subcommittee inquiry into Tasmania’s acute health system has heard.
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Speaking under parliamentary privilege at the Launceston hearing on Tuesday, LGH nursing director of women and child services Janette Tonks said the adolescents were admitted to paediatrics ward 4K “with no known medical condition” for “safety reasons”.
Ms Tonks said one young person had been a mental health patient cared for at the LGH, but with no suitable transition accommodation, remained at the hospital for an additional three to four weeks.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson told the hearing he was aware of “very complex” family situations around the three admissions, and the LGH was “a place of safety” for the adolescents thanks to the dedication and care of LGH staff. Mr Ferguson said, as a father, he felt for a family who had “no other place to go”, took their child to the emergency department and drove away.
Subcommittee member Ruth Forrest MLC described the situation as “a different form of bed block” reducing the number of beds available to acute patients.
Ms Tonks said she believed three such admissions in six months was “extreme”, telling the inquiry she believed a crisis accommodation capacity issue was the primary reason for the young people being admitted.
“This is the best place for them, but they are taking an acute medical bed, which concerns us,” she said.
Mr Ferguson said he would be working with Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma to find the best possible support for young people in such situations into the future.
“Every skerrick of politics aside, we will look for solutions here,” he said.
