Independent Patient Rights Adviser

The Mental Health Act 2016 (Act) provides a legislative framework for the treatment and care of people with mental illness.   As part of the Act, Independent Patient Rights Adviser (IPRA) roles have been created across Queensland Hospital and Health Services, including Wide Bay.

IPRAs are independent of mental health services and aim to ensure a patient’s views, wishes and preferences are considered and that the patients are aware if their rights under the Queensland Mental Health Act 2016 (the Act).

Why are Independent Patient Rights Advisers important?

IPRAs play a very important role in liaising between patients, family, carers, support people and clinical teams.

IPRAs help patients, their families, carers and other support people to know more about their rights under the Act. Understanding these Rights can help patients to be more involved in decision making about their treatment and care.

IPRAs provide safe and quality services and operate within a climate of mutual respect of all stakeholders.

How do Independent Patient Rights Advisers operate?

An IPRA performing the role must act independently and impartial.  The functions of IPRA under part 5, section 294 of the Mental Health Act 2016 are to:

1. ensure that a patient, and the patient’s nominated support persons, family, carers and other support persons are advised of their rights and responsibilities under this Act
2. help the patient, and the patient’s nominated support persons, family, carers and other support persons to communicate to health practitioners the patient’s views, wishes and preferences about the patient’s treatment and care
3. work cooperatively with community visitors performing functions under the Public Guardian Act 2014
4. consult with authorised mental health practitioners, authorised doctors, administrators of authorised mental health services and the Chief Psychiatrist on the rights of patients under this Act, the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000, the Powers of Attorney Act 1998 and other laws
5. In relation to the Mental Health Review Tribunal advise the patient, and the patient’s nominated support persons, family, carers and other support persons of the patient’s rights at the hearing and, if requested help the patient engage a representative for the hearings
6. identify whether the patient has a personal guardian or attorney and, if the patient has a personal guardian or attorney, work cooperatively with the personal guardian or attorney to further the patient’s interests
7. if appropriate, advise the patient of the benefits of an advance health directive (AHD) or enduring power of attorney (EPoA) for a personal matter.

IPRAs are not subject to direction or control by any persons in relation to advice given, or help provided, to a patient or a patient’s nominated support persons, family, carers or other support persons.