PATIENTS are escaping from Morisset psychiatric hospital at a rate of almost one a month, with some missing for up to several days at a time.
The escapees include psychiatric patients from the prison system, such as killer Trent Jennings, who allegedly assaulted and robbed a man in December, while he was on day release.
A Newcastle Herald investigation has found that some of those who absconded from Morisset in the past year left the grounds without permission while others failed to return on time from approved leave.
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Patients might also have used drugs or alcohol, associated with ‘‘unsuitable’’ individuals, or participated in forbidden activities, in breach of their leave conditions, a Hunter New England Health spokeswoman confirmed.
A summary of the state chief psychiatrist’s report on Jennings’s escape, released yesterday, recommended improvements to the monitoring of leave and supervision of patients’ internet access.
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A Hunter New England Health investigation is expected to be completed next month.
Between January 1, 2011, and January 1 this year 11 patients left Morisset hospital without permission or failed to return from leave on time. Three of these were forensic patients.
Forensic patients are either unfit to be tried, have been found not guilty of an offence by reason of mental illness, or become mentally ill in prison and transfer to hospital for care and treatment.
The length of time absconding patients were missing from Morisset hospital ranged from less than an hour to several days, the Hunter New England Health spokeswoman said. For patients granted leave, overdue times ranged from a few minutes to several weeks.
A clinical team decided leave requests, with conditions dependent on the patient’s mental well-being. The Mental Health Review Tribunal or other bodies set restrictions, the spokeswoman said.
Some patients took unaccompanied leave. Staff, friends, family or church members escorted others.
The spokeswoman said many patients took leave and most complied with conditions.
Under the Mental Health Act (2007), patients are not prevented from obtaining or accessing a driver’s licence or passport.
However Hunter New England Health has placed all forensic patients’ passports and drivers’ licences in staff custody.
The spokeswoman said other patients would not be encouraged to apply for passports, unless for a specific reason such as a planned trip to visit family overseas.
Patients might be encouraged to obtain a driver’s licence as part of their rehabilitation, she said.
The Herald revealed last year that mental health patients at Morisset hospital went on ‘‘privilege’’ visits for sex despite allegations a patient attacked a prostitute at a Newcastle brothel.
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