S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

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Once a detention order is made, there may be some delay, due to logistics, resources and distances, before the mental health patient can be evacuated to the designated mental health facility. In the meantime, the detained mental health patient must be confined, often against their will, in a safe environment such as a primary healthcare centre: They [remote nurses] require our assistance then yes, we will stay until such time as that individual [detained mental health patient] is removed [evacuated]. [T25, p. 14] If a detained mental health patient is violent, aggressive, a flight risk or risk of harm to themselves or others, then often a request by remote nurses is made for police assistance. This is especially necessary on occasions where a drug or alcohol is affecting the mental health patient and requires the nurse’s attendance throughout the night: We’ve [police officers] had incidents where a juvenile had psychiatric issues, … and we literally had to sit on him all night until the Royal Flying Doctors could come up the following morning. In the clinic. We had family members outside but … we couldn’t leave the nursing staff there so it was a combined effort. [T25, p8] The uncertainty, complexity and unpredictability of mental health patients necessarily means that in remote locations police officers and remote nurses have a mutually reliant and close professional relationship. Both work at the relationship, as it is in both groups mutual interest. Through working ‘together’, each group’s contribution reduces the totality of work and stress associated with delivering remote mental healthcare: I don’t think I’ve come across really any times where a nurse [remote nurse] has actually perhaps looked at it too casually [mental health patient’s presentation],