17 Apr 2010

Coroner seeks review of mental health crisis team

8:59 pm on 17 April 2010

A coroner has emphasised the need for mental health crisis teams to travel into the community, rather than wait for people to come to see them at the hospital.

In his findings regarding the death of James Barnden of Lower Hutt in 2007, Wellington coroner Garry Evans has recommended a systems review for Hutt Valley District Health Board's crisis and treatment team.

A fortnight before Mr Barnden died, his mother sought help, but the team refused to come to her home and she was told to take him to a GP.

An administrative error then occurred. At a drug and alcohol assessment the next day, Mr Barnden was seen by a trainee student, rather than a qualified clinician.

A psychiatrist assisting the inquest described deficiencies in the crisis team's operation and said his senior colleagues have major problems with its performance.

Major changes since made, says board

Hutt Valley DHB says major changes have been made to the delivery of its community mental health services since Mr Barnden's death.

Acting chief executive Michael Hundleby says problems with mental health crisis teams are a regional issue.

Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHB are working on a joint review.