Dr Sarah Steele1
1Prison Mental Health Service, West Moreton Health, Queensland Health, Australia
Biography:
Dr Sarah Steele is a Senior Psychiatrist at the West Moreton Health Prison Mental Health Service. She gained Fellowship with RANZCP in 2016 following specialist training in Queensland in Child & Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. She began her career in private practice but rejoined the public mental health system in 2020 at The Prince Charles Hospital, finding her way back to Prison Mental Health Service in 2024. Dr Steele is passionate about the physical health care of people with lived experience of major mental illness
Abstract:
Collaboration between the specialist mental health service and primary care service in the Southeast Queensland prisons, following a critical incident, has led to development of a joint work instruction that details best practise in relation to meeting the physical health needs of acutely mentally unwell prisoners. Specifically, the work instruction ensures the proactive management of existing physical health needs as well as engaging in the monitoring and further investigation of those mentally unwell prisoners who may be more vulnerable and at risk of physical ill health or self-induced injury when awaiting admissions to mental health units. This provides a platform that can be readily expanded to ensure that the physical health challenges experienced by prisoners with severe and enduring mental health needs are optimally managed, through both preventative means and responsive attention to any deterioration.