Support for compo, apology for former Royal Derwent patients
Posted
There's widespread support for plans to formally recognise people who were mistreated as patients at the Royal Derwent Hospital in Tasmania's south.
The Government is considering ex-gratia payments and a formal apology for those who suffered under the state's watch at the notorious New Norfolk institution.
The Health Minister, Lara Giddings, says a parliamentary committee will examine how to make amends for the wrongs that occurred at the Royal Derwent.
She says people with disabilities were placed at the hospital, and then forgotten.
Ms Giddings has referred to horrific tales of mistreatment and says compensation is an option.
The Greens' Cassy O'Connor says many of the former patients are still broken and traumatised.
"These children who were incarcerated, because it was a prison for them," Ms O'Connor said.
The Liberals' Brett Whiteley says it's good people are no longer institutionalised, but there's still not enough support for people with disabilities.
The Liberals and the Greens support compensation and an apology for the former patients.
