Professor Ian Hickie was on ABC Radio discussing the ramifications of the tragic Waterlow case. Every word of his resonates with anyone who has tried to obtain treatment for people with psychotic illnesses.

If a stable, well-educated and socially aware family like the Waterlows were refused treatment for their son from an obviously unwilling system, how much harder must it be for isolated people on the margins of society, often living alone in unstable accommodation or actually homeless?

Another psychiatrist commenting on the case in the newspaper report murmured words to the effect that if we had timely care and treatment for people with psychotic illnesses the “system” would be overwhelmed.

Well so be it!