Page 3530 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 September 2019
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A key area of focus for me as the Minister for Mental Health is to ensure that we are planning for the future of acute to subacute mental health units and services to manage capacity, reduce ED presentations and ensure that Canberrans have the care they need at the right place and at the right time.
In terms of the concern raised regarding the early flu season we experienced, having the flu or any other physical health concern is not a barrier to accessing mental health services at the emergency department or in the community. At the emergency department people are medically cleared for their physical health before seeing a mental health clinician if required. If a person is admitted for a physical health concern, the mental health consultation liaison team can see people on the non-mental health wards and a nursing special can be organised if required. If someone admitted to the mental health unit is diagnosed with flu, they are managed as per standard infection control procedures.
In relation to Calvary hospital and its mental health facilities, its services complement and supplement those of the Canberra Hospital. Our public hospitals join together with our community health centres, primary health network and a range of other health facilities and private practitioners to make up a whole health system in the territory. I am pleased at the level of coordination occurring across our different health providers in the ACT.
Calvary offers inpatient mental health services for adults and older persons presenting with acute mental health issues. These services include assessment and treatment for a range of mental health issues on a short-term basis. Patients are generally admitted to the adult mental health unit, ward 2N, after presenting at the emergency department at Calvary hospital or they can be sent to Canberra Hospital if the diagnosis points to that need.
The older persons mental health inpatient unit provides care and treatment to older people experiencing mental illness. Patients admitted to the unit are generally aged 65 and over and are experiencing psychiatric, emotional or behavioural disturbance. The ward adjacent to Calvary’s older persons mental health unit was vacated following the relocation of the aged-care and rehabilitation service to the University of Canberra Hospital. This has presented an opportunity to collocate the adult mental health unit and the older persons mental health unit, providing a cohesive mental health hub at Calvary. This has benefits for both patients and staff, as it will improve the functionality and flows across the two inpatient units. It also means the facilities can be upgraded with minimal disruption to service delivery, as the ward will be relocated following the completion of the works.
The upgrades will provide an updated adult mental health unit with improved ward layouts, allowing for increased security and visibility of patients and an outdoor area. Overall these works will support the delivery of enhanced treatment and care, as well as the health and wellbeing of our patients. The works are well underway and are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
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