Subject: Guidelines for Physical Health of Mental Health Consumers Dear Rochelle,

MHCC would like to thank MHDAO for inviting us to comment on the Draft Guidelines for the Physical Care of Mental Health Consumers (0.3). We welcome the initiative to provide guidelines for a model of holistic care representing a consistent state-wide approach to service delivery that has the potential to improve physical health of mental health consumers and prevent disease. We commend the Department on what presents as a very solid document. However, we highlight that throughout the document where the focus is on collaboration, partnership and information sharing with service providers, the importance of building capacity and inclusion of relationships with NGOs (who may be the primary service provider to a consumer), is not mentioned. NGOs delivering a broad range of services to consumers may well be in a position to share appropriate information with health care professionals assisting in the ongoing healthcare of consumers. We also attach a tracked version of the Draft 0.3 Guidelines with comment as to where specifically feel such collaboration should be emphasised, and include some other suggestions where greater clarity is needed. Consumers rights MHCC suggest inclusion of a section on consumer rights providing information about capacity (should that be in question). Likewise, regarding confidentially and disclosure and assisting consumers to understand their rights to information about medical procedures and interventions in particular contexts