Mental health unit fears

HOBART’S only private mental health care hospital will close for more than two weeks over Christmas, sparking fears it could place added pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital during the festive season.

St Helen’s Private Hospital will close between December 22 and January 8, with it understood staff was told yesterday it was because of a lack of available doctors over the period.

Mark Briscoe, general manager operations of hospital owner Healthscope, said patients, specialists, visitors and staff have been told about the decision.

“Each patient will be consulted by their referring doctor and will be provided with an individual treatment plan for this period,’’ Mr Briscoe said.

“As a non-acute mental health facility, St Helen’s Private Hospital works closely with the Department of Psychological Medicine at the Royal Hobart Hospital to pro- vide high acuity mental health care to patients.”

Federal Denison MP Andrew Wilkie said he had written to state Health Minister Michael Ferguson about concerns it could add more pressure to the RHH’s Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Emergency Medicine, with the prospect of private patients seeking mental health care at the public hospital.

“I am concerned about the closure of St Helen’s Private Hospital over Christmas and the fact that it could increase pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital,” he said.

“That’s why I’ve asked the Health Minister to urgently step in and ensure that patients are able to access treatment over Christmas without creating an unmanageable situation at the Royal.”

The Mental Health Observation Unit was set to open this week but will now be used for general medical patients.

Mr Ferguson announced last month that the unit would “take pressure off the emer- gency department and provide a more suitable treatment environment for mental health patients” was slammed by health professionals and unions.

RHH Medical Staff Association spokesman Frank Nicklason said the unit would have been unfit for mental health patients because it was too small, it did not have windows and it had inadequate partitioning.

Leading international researcher, clinician and advocate for mental health reform, Patrick McGorry said the decision to close St Helen’s seemed certain to add further pressure to a besieged public mental health care system.

“This may seem like a small and localised issue, but it is a symptom of national neglect,” Professor McGorry said.

“Australia is in the midst of a mental health crisis.”

A Tasmanian Health Service spokesman said the department was aware of the Christmas shutdown but was confident “that community need can be met”.