Ministry of Health to look further at Waikato Hospital Event

The Ministry of Health’s Director of Mental Health, Dr John Crawshaw, is considering what further action is needed following the receipt of Health New Zealand’s Rapid Incident Review of the Waikato Hospital Event.

Under the Mental Health Act, the Director of Mental Health has statutory powers to examine the events that took place at Waikato Hospital, including whether an inquiry under Section 95 is required.

Dr Crawshaw said, “Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the distress this incident has caused to the young person and their whānau. This event should never have happened and it is important that we fully understand what took place.

“I have now had Health New Zealand’s findings into the event referred to me, I’m looking at the findings and will be considering whether to use my statutory power to instigate a Section 95 Inquiry. In doing so, I will consider how this may sit with any other potential investigations.”

The Director of Mental Health expects to finish his initial review next week and will formally notify Ministers on the next steps after that.

A Section 95 inquiry can be instigated under the Mental Health Act by the Director of Mental Health where there are concerns of a systemic nature or there is a major incident that requires an independent statutory investigation.