Queensland is the only state with a blanket locked door policy in public mental health units. Experts say it harms patients
ABCExperts are calling for Queensland to scrap its blanket locked door policy in mental health units, saying there is overwhelming evidence it harms patients. Key points: The locked door policy applies to voluntary and involuntary patients Experts say it goes against human rights standards Advocates say it should be replaced by a discretionary policy for separate units Queensland is the only state in Australia that maintains the policy, which requires that all entry and exit doors on acute mental health inpatient units in public hospitals are locked. "It should be replaced with a discretionary locked wards policy so that individual units should be able to determine, consistent with a human-rights framework, whether the particular unit is locked," Dr Chesterman said. A spokesperson for Queensland Health said the policy had been "essential" in "protecting the safety of patients and the community" and had reduced rates of patients absent without approval.
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