AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
Vic: Psychiatric patient jailed as care systems fail
MELBOURNE, Dec 20 AAP - A 75-year-old dementia sufferer accused of trying to kill herself
and her husband is locked in a high-security jail because health authorities can't find
appropriate care for her.
Police took the Greek-born woman, who speaks little English, to the high-security Dame
Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne's west on Monday, The Age reported today.
The woman, who is also clinically depressed, is staying in the jail's psychiatric unit
ahead of a committal hearing charged with her 82-year-old husband's attempted murder.
Her son Nick said his mother was disoriented and agitated when she was discharged from
the St George's Hospital in Kew, where she had been living in a psycho-geriatric ward
for five months.
The hospital discharged her because she no longer needed acute psychiatric care.
Her guardian, the Office of the Public Advocate, has condemned the woman's incarceration
as a breach of her human rights.
Acting Public Advocate Barbara Carter told The Age the woman's situation was "appalling"
and demonstrated big gaps in the medical and community care systems.
"She needs care and supervision. She should not be in jail," Ms Carter said.
"We believe she may be a risk to herself and others If she did not have dementia and
depression, it is likely she would be at home on bail."
The woman's mental fitness to make a plea in court has not been determined.
Victorian Legal Aid told The Age that if the case even reached court, the woman may
have to wait a year.
Federal aged care assessors say she is not suitable for either a hostel or nursing home place.
Ms Carter called on the senior staff at Victoria's Department of Human Services (DHS)
to intervene.
A DHS spokeswoman said the department was trying to find suitable accommodation and
the woman's welfare and safety was being monitored.
AAP jrd/cmc
KEYWORD: PATIENT
2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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