Two Escapes, Three Deaths: Questions Mount Over Sydney Hospital Security
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has expressed deep concern, stating that “something has gone badly wrong” following the shocking escapes of two mental health patients from the same Sydney hospital within a 24-hour period, with both individuals subsequently accused of causing multiple deaths. The incidents have ignited a firestorm of questions regarding the state’s mental health system and security protocols.
The Western Sydney Local Health District has confirmed that a 31-year-old man, now accused of causing a fatal car crash that claimed the lives of two women in Camden on February 14, had absconded from Cumberland Hospital six days prior to the tragic event.
Sources indicate that the man, identified as Luke Peter Francis, was being held involuntarily under the NSW Mental Health Act. It is understood he allegedly “overpowered and threatened” a nurse, seized an access card, and fled the facility on February 8.
In a separate, yet disturbingly similar, incident, health authorities confirmed that Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa, 25, accused of a stabbing spree in Merrylands on Tuesday that resulted in one death and two critical injuries, had also escaped from the same hospital. His escape occurred a full ten days before the alleged attack.
Court documents reveal that Mr Leaaetoa had been placed in mental health custody on February 5. The health district stated he absconded from care while being transferred from Cumberland Hospital to the emergency department at Westmead Hospital, just two days later.
NSW Police have confirmed they were immediately alerted to both patient escapes.
Patient Sighted Post-Escape, But Not Apprehended
Compounding the distress, police sources have informed the ABC that Mr Francis was reportedly sighted in Sydney’s south approximately two days after his escape from Cumberland Hospital.
However, it is understood that officers did not take him into custody. This was reportedly because, by the time they encountered him, his patient status had been officially changed from “absconder” to “discharged.”
NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson explained to ABC Radio Sydney that it is standard procedure for the status of an involuntary patient, who has not undergone a reassessment for over 24 hours, to be automatically updated.
Ms Jackson expressed her personal view that the police should have had the authority to detain Mr Francis and bring him in for assessment, particularly if he was on parole at the time of his escape. “In this individual’s circumstance, we don’t have all the information,” she stated. “I am of the view that police would have and should have had the power to bring this individual back in for assessment, and if that didn’t happen for some reason and there is a way we can clarify that, absolutely we will do it.”
The ABC understands that NSW Police are currently investigating the extent of their powers to arrest individuals in such circumstances.
Calls for Systemic Review and Accountability
Premier Minns addressed the nation on Thursday, voicing his profound concern over both incidents. He emphasised that the state’s mental health system is fundamentally designed to ensure the safety of both the public and patients.
“NSW Health is treating more people with psychiatric illnesses… than ever before and the vast majority of those cases end up with the community [being kept] safe, the individual getting help that they need,” Mr Minns said. “But this one has gone badly wrong, and we need to make sure that we’re learning the lessons from it.”
A formal review has been initiated into the circumstances surrounding Mr Leaaetoa’s ability to escape care. “This is a deeply distressing, deeply distressing situation and I feel terrible for the family members of those that have been affected and the family of the man that was killed,” the Premier added.
Decades of Underinvestment Alleged
Nurses and midwives are speaking out, with the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association Cumberland branch president, Nick Howson, a nurse at Cumberland Hospital himself, stating that medical staff have been warning authorities for years that the mental health system is “broken.”
Mr Howson attributed the current crisis to decades of “underinvestment” by both Labor and Liberal governments. He painted a stark picture of the conditions at Cumberland Hospital, noting:
- The hospital is one of the largest precincts physically in NSW.
- There are only three security staff assigned to cover every single eventuality.
- Outside of standard working hours, these same security staff are responsible for patient transport alongside nursing staff.
- There is a chronic shortage of personnel to adequately cover all operational needs.
“It’s just been brewing in the background for a very long time and people only pay attention when something tragic happens,” he lamented.
Shadow Health Minister Sarah Mitchell echoed these concerns, asserting that the state’s mental health system has failed to improve, even in the wake of numerous reviews, including those following the recent Bondi Junction stabbing attack.
“These are some of the most vulnerable people who deserve to be looked after and, frankly, when you see innocent victims, it’s heartbreaking. I can’t imagine what is going through the minds of the families who have lost loved ones over the last few days,” Ms Mitchell stated.
Earlier this month, a coroner recommended that the NSW government collaborate with NSW Health to address the observed decline in mental health outreach services. The recommendations also highlighted the urgent need for enhanced accommodation options in the greater Sydney area for individuals experiencing mental health challenges and homelessness. Premier Minns confirmed that the government is currently assessing these relevant recommendations from the inquest.
