The Health Department report into Wilson's Patch says that secure areas for patients and ex-patients failed to meet acceptable standards.
Health Minister Ian Taylor today released the report and 12 photographs of facilities at Wilson's Patch.
Mr Taylor said he was unhappy with some aspects of conditions at Wilson's Patch in the past 12 months. The report pointed to the need for attention to be given to reviewing the supervision of all patients with mental disorders who were on aftercare.
"The Department has already acted on both issues - no further patients will be sent to Wilson's Patch until all concerns raised in the report have been addressed," Mr Taylor said.
"In addition, all patients on aftercare have been identified and a new policy, in line with recommendations in the new Mental Health Act, will be enforced to ensure patients are reviewed regularly.
"The report does not condemn those running Wilson's Patch or the Health Department staff who visited regularly - it says there seems to be little doubt that persons placed at Wilson's Patch have been well looked after, a finding supported by the local doctor.
"It is unfortunate that, to a large degree, public blame has been attached to the carers who are attempting to provide care for difficult individuals in difficult circumstances."
Mr Taylor said the evidence presented in the report indicated that there were adult carers for the patients at the camp and that the secure areas were used for a short period during the day when the carers were either taking a break or attending to the numerous other duties at the camp.
There was also a lack of resources to build a more adequate and secure fenced-off area to meet the needs of the patients, who were incontinent and had to be out of the sleeping quarters while their bedding was being cleaned and dried.
For the rest of the time, the patients lived with the other adults at the camp, ate the same meals and lived and slept in the same quarters and had not suffered any apparent physical harm or neglect.
Mr Taylor said the nature of the patients being dealt with by the carers made it an extremely onerous task, but one which they had handled as well as possible, given the circumstances.
"It is important that the public fully understand why the patients were there - Graylands and other major hospitals and institutions are not necessarily the right environment to help these mentally disturbed Aboriginal people."
Other points made by the report included:
· claims that a patient had been chained to a tree did not prompt a complaint to police from the relative who made the allegation, despite being advised that this was the appropriate action - the allegation went to the Health Department and resulted in a visit from an officer from Graylands;
· claims of weight loss by patients could not be attributed to their treatment at Wilson's Patch - in the case of one patient, the weight loss was attributable to gastritis; and -
· the questions regarding the expenditure of patient-related incomes were a matter for investigation by other authorities.
"The real job in front of us now is to ensure that a similar situation does not arise," Mr Taylor said.
"The recommendations of the report are being acted on and, along with the provisions of the new Mental Health Act, will result in a far better aftercare service being provided for patients with mental disorders in this State."
