Mr Simos was lawfully kept at the hospital. Similarly, the treatment that he received, which some might characterise as involuntary treatment, was authorised by the Mental Health Act 2009. It was lawful treatment; Appropriate efforts were made to arrange transport of Mr Simos back to his treatment centre, namely the Lyell McEwin Hospital. The efforts to have him transported were unsuccessful insofar as they were delayed because of the exigencies of workloads of the RFDS and MedSTAR. It would have been inappropriate for Mr Simos to have been transported by road in an ambulance; Mr Simos’ treatment at the hospital was appropriate; The precise of Mr Simos’ death cannot be ascertained. Recommendations Pursuant to Section 25(2) of the Coroners Act 2003 I am empowered to make recommendations that in the opinion of the Court might prevent, or reduce the likelihood of, a recurrence of an event similar to the event that was the subject of the Inquest. The Court makes the following recommendations directed to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse: The Court echoes the recommendation made by Dr Joyner as follows: 'There should be ongoing awareness by Rural and Remote Consultants of the need to assess carefully risk/safety factors and the limitations of rural hospitals in managing acutely psychotic and violent patients in rural SA; Reinforcement to transport and retrieval services to carefully risk manage/assess acutely psychotic patients in hospitals with a view to early transport where possible (I should also say that I am well aware that these recommendations form part of current policies of these organisations but that does not prevent me from stating them here).' The Court also endorses Dr Joyner’s opinions as summarised in paragraph 7.2. herein. That in according priority to the transportation of mentally ill patients, that priority be wherever possible, to the transport of patients who are the subject of inpatient treatment orders under the Mental Health Act 2009 or who are the subject of other measures that have been invoked under that Act.
Mr Simos was lawfully kept at the hospital. Similarly, the treatment that he received, which some might characterise as involuntary treatment, was authorised by the Mental Health Act 2009. It was lawful treatment; Appropriate efforts were made to arrange transport of Mr Simos back to his treatment centre, namely the Lyell McEwin Hospital. The efforts to have him transported were unsuccessful insofar as they were delayed because of the exigencies of workloads of the RFDS and MedSTAR. It would have been inappropriate for Mr Simos to have been transported by road in an ambulance; Mr Simos’ treatment at the hospital was appropriate; The precise of Mr Simos’ death cannot be ascertained. Recommendations Pursuant to Section 25(2) of the Coroners Act 2003 I am empowered to make recommendations that in the opinion of the Court might prevent, or reduce the likelihood of, a recurrence of an event similar to the event that was the subject of the Inquest. The Court makes the following recommendations directed to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse: The Court echoes the recommendation made by Dr Joyner as follows: 'There should be ongoing awareness by Rural and Remote Consultants of the need to assess carefully risk/safety factors and the limitations of rural hospitals in managing acutely psychotic and violent patients in rural SA; Reinforcement to transport and retrieval services to carefully risk manage/assess acutely psychotic patients in hospitals with a view to early transport where possible (I should also say that I am well aware that these recommendations form part of current policies of these organisations but that does not prevent me from stating them here).' The Court also endorses Dr Joyner’s opinions as summarised in paragraph 7.2. herein. That in according priority to the transportation of mentally ill patients, that priority be wherever possible, to the transport of patients who are the subject of inpatient treatment orders under the Mental Health Act 2009 or who are the subject of other measures that have been invoked under that Act.
SIMOS%20Theodoras%20Joannas.docx