Behind the playground

Early today I was told that three members of staff from the Chief Ombudsman's office in Wellington had arrived for an unannounced visit to the inpatient unit as part of New Zealand's commitment to prevent torture. Seclusion of psychiatric patients is regarded as being a form of torture. It is certainly something we work hard to avoid.

As it happens, since their last visit in 2017, we have reduced our rate of seclusion to the lowest in the country, with only a handful of short episodes in the last six months; none in the last two months. Moreover, there has been less need for restraining patients. I have always thought that the more coercive staff are, the more coercive practices are needed, and conversely. 

We have also moved from being a fully locked unit to only the intensive care ward being locked. The entry doors are locked to prevent entry, but are exitable by patients at will. Like most other adults, they do tell staff when they are going out, and for how long and even write it on the register. That has also impressed our visitors.

After getting home, I went across to Coxs Bay, where the tide was fully out. Beside Coxs Bay Park (a large sports field on what was once a mix of swamp and sawmill) is a children's playground. Not long ago it had a number of challenging items. In the interests of safety (and, I suspect, boredom) they now have items that catch the interest of very small children, and boys the age of my youngest grandson (11 years old) are banned. There was one father with one small boy when I was there. Father had bounced along the rebounders set into the ground. Enjoyed himself by the smile. Son tried to emulate him and didn't quite manage to bounce out onto the grass, causing no harm. Perhaps father's urgent call of "Careful!" may have caused the harm of loss of confidence. I hope not.

Behind the playground was a solitary magpie; a female whiteback I think. These are described as an abundant Australian introduction. Whether by natural means (being blown across the Tasman) or being deliberately introduced, I do not know.