Unauthorised absences from leave from an Australian security hospital

To consider incidents relating to absences without permission from authorised leave from a security hospital.

A retrospective audit over a 10-year period of all critical incidents relating to leave from the High Security Inpatient Services, Brisbane, Australia.

There has been a low incidence of patients absenting themselves without permission from leave. Of the 12 patients who went absent without permission over the 10-year study period, only one patient was reported to have committed an offence and no patient seriously self-harmed.

Attention to patient selection and risk management strategies have been effective in minimising the risk to patients and to the community as a direct result of absences without permission from authorised leave.