FATHER OF PATIENT SEEKS DRUG INQUIRY

A Wakari Hospital patient's father wants an independent inquiry into
allegations cannabis has been smuggled into wards and drug dealers have been
targeting patients near the hospital.

The man, who did not want to be named to protect the identity of his
34-year-old daughter's children, has spoken to mental health district
inspector Kathleen Weatherall. He says she has requested a formal written
complaint.

"I want to see an independent inquiry because of the danger of mixing drugs
with medication and alcohol," he said.

Healthcare Otago mental health manager Dr Colleen Coop was unable to comment
directly about individual patients for privacy reasons, but confirmed she
had received a formal complaint on cannabis-related issues yesterday.

Dr Coop said illegal drugs were not on wards. Police were "regularly called"
to the hospital to undertake searches initiated by suspicious staff, she
said.

The patient's father said his daughter had been both a committed patient and
released into the community on several occasions over more than four years.

On Thursday, she had arrived at his home unexpectedly by taxi from the
hospital in a distressed state and he had to restrain her from jumping off a
balcony.

He said his daughter's arrival, while her children were there, had been both
a "frightening and life-threatening situation".

He believed she had had access to cannabis and was under its influence while
still on medication from Wakari.

"Why are people released when they are in such a state," he asked.

Two police and several staff from Healthcare Otago's Emergency Psychiatric
Services unit were called and about an hour later the woman was returned to
Wakari Hospital.

The father raised three points he said were based on his daughter's
experiences:

* Were Wakari patients going on leave blood-tested for cannabis before
release in to the community and on their return ?

* What precautions were taken to keep cannabis out of the ward ?

* Were cannabis dealers targeting hospital patients in streets adjacent to
the hospital grounds ? Dr Coop said blood tests were not taken before and
after leave, but only in "special circumstances".

She was concerned patients would consider using cannabis or alcohol while on
medication, but after clinicians judged a patient clinically fit for leave
patients made their own choices when they went out of hospital.

Staff were "highly aware" of cannabis-associated problems and immediately
called police if they suspected cannabis was being used.

Dr Coop said she was unaware of dealers targeting patients off hospital
grounds.

Kaikorai police Sergeant Stan Moynihan said there was no known drug activity
operating around the hospital.

About twice a month Wakari staff called police to undertake searches, but
there was only ever a "minimal amount" of drugs found.