Transporting mental health patients

Abstract

Maltese Mental Health legislation does not cater for the transport of mental health patients by police or security agencies. This is however being reviewed in the Draft Mental Health Act. Existing protocols do not mention the use of security agencies for transportation issues particularly due to the fact that all reviewed Health Agencies rely on the Police. This should be clearly established should the Maltese Hospital Security Agencies take up this role. The police force is the main ‘agency’ given this remit and such is proposed in the Draft law. The type of transport depends on the level of risk posed to patient, health workers and security agencies. A full risk assessment should be drafted for such circumstances. A review of sedation, restraints and use of other intervention methods needs to be established for the potential circumstances.