Health and safety cause of further mental health action
PSA members working in Auckland mental health crisis and community teams are taking industrial action due to an acute
shortage of patient beds, PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said today.
“Members at South Auckland DHB’s CATT and crisis teams began action from Monday October 14 as a result of serious risks
to health and safety imposed from patients being discharged early due to a lack of beds. This action will be taken in
addition to current action being taken in inpatient units.”
Richard Wagstaff said serious risk to patient and staff safety arose when CATT and crisis teams were presented with
referrals and no beds were available. Patients who were still requiring treatment were being discharged into the care of
community and crisis teams for the purpose of freeing up beds.
Richard Wagstaff said the PSA was still awaiting the results of a Mental Health Commission review of Auckland mental
health services which was due at the end of September.