10 staff for one patient

Stuff reports:

It is costing the public healthcare system almost $2500 a day to keep Ashley Peacock behind locked doors, despite human rights concerns and his family’s wish for his release.

So he is not being kept locked up to save money. In fact it would be far cheaper to do what the family wish, and release him – as just announced.

The money was spent predominantly on staffing and direct patient care costs, such as laundry and food. About $762,000 was spent on staff wages, CCDHB said.

Two non-government organisation staff worked 22.5 hours a week with Peacock. Eight full time-equivalent health board staff also worked with him, including psychiatry and allied health professionals.

“The majority of staff time is spent exclusively with Mr Peacock,” the health board said.

Not exactly an uncaring health system – 10 staff for just one patient.

When asked by Stuff for a breakdown of assaults by him on his care providers or visitors, CCDHB alleged 29 incidents between January 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017 in its Official Information Act response, although it did not provide any detail.

So 29 assaults in one year. Maybe that is why he has not been released.

The Green Party has been calling for an inquiry into the mental health system. Its health spokeswoman, Julie Anne Genter, said there did not appear to have been any progress on a proposed transition plan out of the facility recommended for Peacock.

Starting the transition was a more desirable outcome than spending almost a million dollars a year keeping him in widely-criticised conditions, she said.

“Instead of locking up that man … [they] should find a solution that’s going to work better for him, and his family, and the people looking after him.”

Well they have announced a solution that will see him out of the facility, but time will tell if he can be safely looked after anywhere else.