Guidelines needed for sharing mental health info

11.00 am

The Government has ordered health authorities to create a national protocol for sharing information about at-risk patients.

In August 1999, mentally ill Auckland man, Lachlan Jones, killed his flatmate, Malcolm Beggs, then himself.

This sparked a review of how information is shared in situations where a person may be a danger to themselves and the community.

The subsequent Mental Health Commission review found there are still large discrepancies around the country in the way families, other health professionals and patients are kept informed.

It also found confusion amongst health workers about how privacy legislation works and its application with regard to mental health patients.

Health Minister Annette King wants District Health Boards to adopt specific policies on information sharing, and to ensure staff have the adequate training and support to follow the guidelines.

Ms King wants the national protocol on information sharing drawn up by the end of June with progress to be reviewed in 18 months.

But Lachlan Jones father, Owen, says more deaths are likely if changes are not fast-tracked.

Mr Jones says existing rules already allow families and others to be told about patients who are a danger to themselves and others, and those rules should be enforced much sooner.