Security staff cuts to stand
SECURITY staff cuts at the Park Centre for Mental Health will not be reversed despite a patient walking out of the centre last week.
The West Moreton Hospital and Health Board reduced the number of security officers from three to two per shift in August as part of the Newman Government costing cuts.
Last week Justin Grant, aged 29, went missing after walking out of the facility on his first limited leave since arriving at Wolston Park in 2009.
He was eventually located by Victorian police near Melbourne on Sunday.
West Moreton Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lesley Dwyer said the review of security staff would proceed.
"The decision to review security service at The Park Centre for Mental Health will continue as planned and changes to service models will be made in the best interest of our patients and staff," she said.
"As with hospital facilities across the state there is not a set ratio of security to patients."
Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller said the community had a right to feel protected.
"As part of the cost-cutting in the West Moreton Hospital and Health Board we are aware that security is being reduced," she said.
"This is not good enough. The Park hospital holds many patients who are there at the order of the courts.
"The community, in particular Goodna, Gailes and the Centenary suburbs, need to be protected and the community has a right to know they are safe from these patients."
She said communities that lived close to the facility were tolerant of patients considered safe for release.
Mrs Miller said cost-cutting of security at health services directly added to the duties of the police service.
Ms Dwyer said a review was under way into Grant's disappearance.
"Patients at The Park are placed in appropriate accommodation and clinical care environments dependent on their clinical diagnosis and individual risk assessment," she said. "It should be noted that security staff do not participate in supervised and unsupervised leave of patients at The Park."
Patients leave conditions are determined by the Independent Mental Health Review Tribunal.
