• Narinder Panesar, Iveta Valachova, Robert Schmidtman, and ChanDaniel Kam YinDKYhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0481-3933Professor and Consultant Geriatrician, Aged Care and Rehabilitation, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital and University of New South Wales, Bankstown, NSW, Australia..
• Consultant Psychogeriatrician, Psychogeriatric Department, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Bankstown, NSW, Australia.
• Australas Psychiatry. 2018 Oct 1; 26 (5): 469-473.

ObjectiveThe study aimed to survey hospital staff knowledge of the application of the Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) (MHA) and the Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW) (GA) in the care and treatment of older persons in a teaching hospital in Sydney. Method Over a two-month period in 2017, a survey questionnaire was distributed to staff involved in older persons' care across the hospital.ResultsThe majority of the hospital staff demonstrated basic theoretical knowledge of both the GA (76%) and of the MHA (84.5%). Fewer (64.5%) appeared to understand the practical application of the MHA in the hypothetical clinical situations. An even lower proportion of staff appeared to understand the application of the GA either to obtain consent for medical treatment or to appoint a guardian through the Guardianship Division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).ConclusionAlthough clinical staff of the hospital displayed fair knowledge and awareness about the application of the MHA and the GA to inpatient care of older adults, further education is necessary, particularly about the application of the GA. The authors suggest similar findings may occur at other New South Wales hospitals, which may raise concern and need for education.

22 keywords...

hide…