Minister orders review of mental health care in Auckland

Health Minister Annette King has ordered a probe into the care mental health patients in Auckland are receiving.

Mrs King said today she had asked the Mental Health Commission to review mental health care provided by district health boards (DHBs) in Auckland.

She had also asked the Ministry of Health to work with DHBs to resolve problems in providing acute care.

The commission's review would look "at the continuum of care for those with mental illness".

It would look at primary and community interventions, in-patient services and long term care for the mentally ill, Mrs King said.

It would focus on medium and long-term actions to improve the quality of care.

The review would be led by commission acting chairman Bob Henare and would be undertaken by a small group of experts in health management and clinical practice.

The commission would provide the minister with a report by June 30 and a draft action plan by August 30.

"This is not a large scale inquiry but I need to know that people in Auckland are receiving high quality care," Mrs King said.

- NZPA