“Transport of People Who Are Mentally Ill” Policy

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The rationale of the current policy “Transport of People who are mentally ill”

The rationale behind this policy is to transport (safely) the mentally ill patients using appropriate ambulance services. Such services are demanded where certified skills from the ambulance officers are necessitated. Ambulance service departments are obligated to react to emergency calls from the public. In addition, mentally ill patients require prompt attention to manage their conditions (Boyd, 2008). Transporting them using appropriate ambulance services can help.

Background of the existing policy

Various problems have been encountered while handling and transporting mentally ill patients from one place to the next. According to the established policy, mentally ill patients, like any other injured or incapacitated patient require ambulance services as well as tense security escort (Porter, 2011)

Facts about the existing policy

There has MOU signed between NSW Police and NSW Health officers on how to transport mentally ill persons (Gulli, 2011). There are various situations when police vehicles, ambulances, as well as other health service transport systems may be utilized in case such needs arise (Lundy & Janes, 2009).

Why change is required

The existing policy is expensive to facilitate, involves time-consuming, wastes resources, and is risky to the healthcare providers in case the concerned patient is violent (Western, 2012). Thus, mentally ill patients need specialized transportation coaches.

Facts (that might help to change the existing policy)

Specialized coaches with special facilities are required to transport such patients. Using cabins/coaches with cushioned walls and anesthetic inhalants is appropriate compared to manning the concerned patients with security officers (Connell, 2009).

Case Study (link to a related short video)

The video demonstrates the atrocities posed by mentally ill patients. Thus, it supports why mentally ill persons should be transported using special coaches designed specifically for them.

Who needs consulting?

The current policy on the transportation of mentally ill patients has not been effective enough to handle the increasing cases of mental complications within Australia and beyond (Hammaker, 2011). The government should review the current policy and streamline it to encompass specialized coaches for transporting the concerned patients (Reid, 2009). In addition, family members are important sources of information on how their patients can be handled better (Beer, 2008).

Policy Goals

The goals of this policy incorporate transporting mentally ill patients at their convenience. Using specialized coaches with proper facilities to prevent injuries both to the patient and health practitioners is vital (Mayse, 2010). In addition, the policy intends to force the government to provide specialized transport facilities to the concerned mentally ill patients. It also intends to involve the family members in the treatment of such patients (Boardman, 2010). Concurrently, the policy is also aimed at achieving collaboration between the respective government agency and the Area Director of Mental Health Services as mentioned earlier (Baxter, 2007).

How the policy will be developed

The policy will consider the viewpoints of the health practitioners, family members, and the concerned government agencies to deliberate on the convenience of the matter (Arboleda-Flórez & Sartorius, 2008). Health practitioners will also comment on the proposal before the government ratifies it. Additionally, the policy will then be formulated by the panel and approved by the government in consultation with external experts.

Implementation proposal

Upon establishment, the proposed policy will be implemented jointly through collaboration between the government and the Area Director of Mental Health Services (Dominelli, 2008).

Strengths and Weakness

The policy will improve the safety of patients and health practitioners. Additionally, it will reduce costs, involve family members, save time, and reduce the probable risks. Weaknesses include the inability to attend to other associated complications, which are not catered for by the policy (Legere, 2010).

Recommendation

Due to its effectiveness, the government and other concerned agencies should establish and implement this policy with immediate effect. Its benefits outweigh its demerits.

References

Arboleda-Flórez, J. & Sartorius, N. (2008). Understanding the stigma of mental illness: Theory and interventions. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Baxter, G. (2007). Patients at risk due to lack of correspondence between departments. Irish Medical Times, 41(1), 1-1.

Beer, M. (2008). Psychiatric intensive care. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Boardman, J. (2010). Social inclusion and mental health. London: RCPsych Publications.

Boyd, M. (2008). Psychiatric nursing: Contemporary practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Connell, R. (2009). Imagined Australia: Reflections around the reciprocal construction of identity between Australia and Europe. Bern: Lang.

Dominelli, L. (2008). Introducing social work. Cambridge: Polity.

Freyer, F. J. (2006). Facilities lacking for mentally ill children. New York, NY: Tribune Business News.

Gulli, B. (2011). Emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Hammaker, D. (2011). Health care management and the law: Principles and applications. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar/Cengage Learning.

Legere, L. (2010). Family of mentally ill woman fatally shot by police sues city and state. Web.

Lundy, K. & Janes, S. (2009). Community health nursing: Caring for the public’s health. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Mayse, J. (2010). State law’s handling of mentally ill questioned. Web.

Porter, B. (2011). Handbook of traffic psychology. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Reid, M. (2009). Transport of people who are mentally ill. Web.

Western, S. (2012). Coaching and mentoring: A critical text. London: SAGE.

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