Mental health tops agenda
A REFURBISHMENT of Cairns Hospital’s old mental health unit will kick off shortly, as advocates say more nurses are needed in the Far North to improve patient access to mental health treatment.
About 400 delegates from across the globe have gathered in Cairns this week to attend the International Mental Health Nursing Conference.
The three-day event, hosted by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, will discuss how the work of mental health nurses can promote and uphold the rights of people experiencing mental illness to access the care they rightfully deserve and maximise their potential to lead fully inclusive and contributing lives.
College president Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane told reporters yesterday there were problems with patients being able to access proper mental health care and treatment in the Far North.
“I think some of the issues for the acute mental health services in places such as Cairns, are problems with the built environment,” she said.
“We have problems with the right staffing mix, and we have problems with the type of care that ought to be provided, due to overcrowding, longer wait times in the ED (emergency department).
“An inability to get a bed at the right time for personal crisis is contributing to increases in frustration by consumers, and overworked mental health workers.”
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service is undergoing a $70 million redevelopment of its mental health unit, including construction a new mental health precinct.
In CHHHS’ annual report, released yesterday, it states the HHS has so far carried out clinical service planning and model of care development.
“The next 12 months will see planning commence on the replacement of the mental health infrastructure,” the report says. “In late 2018, and as the first part of this project, the health service will commence refurbishment of vacant space in the Cairns Hospital to provide improved mental health inpatient facilities until the redeveloped inpatient mental health unit is complete.”