The position of a Canberra woman committed to Rozelle Hospital under the Inebriates Act for six months was resolved yesterday, (wedjul29) according to the office of the Minister for Heatlh, Wayne Berry.
Her case was reporter in The Canberra Times on Tuesday. (jul28)
A spokeswoman for Mr Berry said ACT authorities and NSW had liaised to clear up a misunderstanding about the application of ACT law and funding to NSW institutions.
Earlier this week Rozelle Hospital refused to admit the woman under the terms of the order saying there was no funding and the ACT law did not apply in NSW and said she would have to go back to the ACT.
The 73-year-old woman had been committed by the ACT magistrates court on her daughter’s application because the daughter could not cope with her any more.
The daughter said the hospital had told ACT police who had taken her mother to Sydney that it could not admit her and that she might be sent home alone by train.
Mr Berry’s spokeswoman office said the woman would now be treated and under constant evaluation under the court order.
Apparently there was some confusion at Rozelle about arrangements with the ACT. The daughter said yesterday (wedjul29) that court staff had told her that the legislation had been changed recently after the lapse of arrangements with Kenmore (the now-closed hospital in near Goulburn). Court staff, after being advised of discussions with NSW authorities by Mr Berry’s office and the office of the Attorney-General, Terry Connolly, had assured her that her mother would be staying at Rozelle.
The case is one of a number in recent laws which have concerned ACT authorities, especially the courts, where people are sent to NSW institutions or jails under the Inebriates Act, the Mental Health Act or for crime and ACT authorities lose control of them.