Patient abuse and corruption at Tamworth's Banksia House mental health centre have been slammed as "unprofessional" and "unacceptable" by New England Area Health Service head Terry Clout.
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Mr Clout said that while the most serious of the allegations appeared to relate to isolated incidents, they clearly showed major failings of professional standards at the centre.
"The issues are of a serious nature. They show that the management and clinical structure clearly weren't working well and a few individuals were acting out of the bounds of our professional standard of conduct, and action has been taken against them," Mr Clout said.
"Incidents such as this are incredibly rare, however they are unacceptable and measures have been put in place to ensure they never happen again."
These comments come after the allegations were aired in Parliament on Tuesday as part of a speech by NSW Health Minister Morris Iemma.
"Banksia House lacked appropriate supervision, management and control, Banksia House patients experienced intimidation, harassment and bullying to a limited degree, hospital property was given or sold to staff by another staff member ... and one patient had been assaulted by staff," Mr Iemma said.
Mr Iemma also detailed "alleged bullying by senior management" as part of his speech.
Investigations began into the allegations in December last year, after staff at the NEAHS were alerted to the claims in a letter from an anonymous Banksia House staff member.
Three separate investigations were then launched into the allegations, one conducted internally by staff at the centre, and another two conducted by health care authorities.
"There were two external investigations run concurrently; a clinical investigation run by Mental Health Services and another run by a senior member of the NEAHS who has experience as a former policeman," Mr Clout said.
The NEAHS claims it has acted in accordance with the findings of preliminary reports into the allegations, with the State Government having already contributed $500,000 to help implement the recommendations, which involve an extensive review of staff training procedures and a change of management personnel.
"The clinical review from Mental Health Services sets out a list of recommendations, including a bringing together of community and inpatient mental health services and an upgrading of training and skills, which are currently being implemented," Mr Clout said.
"A senior clinical manager has been appointed to head Banksia House and to clearly set out for all staff an appropriate code of conduct so that there can be no doubt over the standards set down to staff members."
One staff member has already been sacked and a further three suspended from duty over the allegations.
And while Mr Iemma and the NEAHS have claimed that the incidents were isolated, The Leader has since been contacted by a former Banksia House patient who alleges she too was the victim of mistreatment by staff, dating back a full year before the incidents in question.
Tamworth police are currently investigating the patient abuse claims, with the Independent Commission Against Corruption also leading its own investigation.
Opposition spokesman for health Barry O'Farrell yesterday accused the Government of a cover-up and asked why police weren't notified of the allegations, which were allegedly made in December.
