The Hillview Terrace Hospital may close permanently

September 28, 1995

The Hillview Terrace Hospital may close permanently following a damning report tabled by Health Minister Graham Kierath in Parliament today.

The report provides evidence of misconduct, mismanagement and other serious problems at The Hillview Terrace Hospital over nearly a decade.

The independent legal review of professional practices at Hillview was ordered by then Health Minister Peter Foss to investigate rumours of further misconduct after a senior member of the nursing staff was convicted of indecent dealing with a child under 14 years of age.

Perth lawyer Neil Douglas found evidence of:

·       inappropriate out-of-hours contact between patients and staff;

·       inappropriate physical contact between patients and staff;

·       a dominant and inappropriate nursing culture;

·       rorts by nursing staff; and -

·       poor record-keeping;

Mr Douglas' comprehensive recommendations include a review of complaints and disciplinary procedures for staff.

Mr Kierath said he accepted the findings and would act immediately to ensure the problems did not continue.

"I am appalled to learn about this mess" he said.

"I am particularly concerned that the problems have only now been uncovered - nearly 10 years after they began.

"Such behaviour and mismanagement is totally unacceptable in a public facility, particularly one that cares for vulnerable young people."

Mr Kierath noted that a number of management problems had been remedied since Hillview had been part of the Bentley Health Service, and there was no allegation of current inappropriate physical contact between patients and staff.

Hillview Hospital is currently closed because there are no psychiatrist available to provide services to in-patients.

"Nevertheless, I have instructed the Commissioner of Health to take urgent and comprehensive action to ensure that none of the problems identified by Mr Douglas are allowed to continue," he said.

"The report again raises the question of Hillview's future and I am seriously considering the Health Department's preference for improved child and adolescent psychiatric services to be provided from a new, purpose-built site.

"The quickest and cleanest way to break the inappropriate and dominant nursing culture and to introduce a proper service model, is to close the facility entirely and transfer the services progressively to a general hospital site.

"That action was supported by a task force set up by then Health Minister Keith Wilson in 1991 and by the independent Gorton report commissioned by Mr Foss.

"I have asked the department for recommendations on this option as a matter of urgency.

"I do not intend at this time to pursue further disciplinary action against staff, because those involved in inappropriate physical contact with patients have either left or been prosecuted."

Mr Kierath said the other findings of mismanagement and inappropriate conduct either referred to incidents which were now closed, were part of the culture at Hillview and would be addressed as such, or had already been handled by management.

No allegations had surfaced during the 1989 Zelestis Inquiry into allegations of mistreatment of psychiatric patients.

Mr Kierath said he had confidence in the current management of Hillview through the Bentley Health Service and that significant improvements had already been made before the Douglas report.

"These tasks have partially been accomplished by the current management and cannot be taken much further unless a strong psychiatric presence is re-established to direct policy and operations in child and adolescent services," he said.

"Hillview, like other public mental health services world-wide, has suffered from the lack of psychiatrists prepared to work in the public sector which I will take into consideration when making my final decision about the future of these services.

"But one thing is crystal clear.

"However and wherever we provide psychiatric services for children and adolescents, these problems will not be permitted to continue."

Media contact:  Caroline Lacy 222 9595 481 2133