The separate escapes of two mental health patients from the hospital responsible for the most complex psychiatric cases in western Sydney points to an inability to provide longer-term care when \u201cdemand is almost insatiable\u201d, medical sources say.<\/p>\n
A man charged with murder<\/a> after a stabbing attack in Merrylands on Tuesday<\/a> had allegedly absconded from Cumberland hospital. In an unrelated matter, it has been alleged that another of the hospital\u2019s patients caused a car crash that killed two people on Saturday.<\/p>\n The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, on Thursday said the growing pressure on the public mental health system needed to be addressed, including by implementing recommendations from the Bondi Junction stabbings<\/a> inquest.<\/p>\n He said he was concerned about the security failing that led to patients to abscond and that \u201cthere needs to be a full investigation into the circumstances relating to these patients\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to make sure that forensic hospitals, psychiatric wards have the kind of security that\u2019s in place to keep the public safe,\u201d Minns said.<\/p>\n His comments came a year after psychiatrists threatened to resign en masse<\/a> due to working conditions in the public system and the risks of providing substandard care to patients<\/a>.<\/p>\n One mental health professional, who asked not to be identified, told Guardian Australia that two psychiatrists at Cumberland hospital quit last year. They were replaced by doctors who were contracted to work fewer hours.<\/p>\n