Dan plans our crisis hub
THE number of people presenting to Geelong hospital with a mental health condition had climbed 47 per cent in three years, Premier Daniel Andrews revealed yesterday.
Mr Andrews toured the hospital’s emergency department, which will be extended to include a crisis hub for erratic and uncontrollable patients, thanks to a statewide spend of $100 million focused on driving down hospital violence.
The hub will be housed in an existing internal void neighbouring the current ED.
It will include separate 24hour, short-stay units, helping ensure people who present with urgent mental health, alcohol and drug issues can get immediate specialist care.
Upon presenting, patients in crisis will be fast-tracked to the hub to be assessed and treated by an ED and mental health team made up of psychiatrists, mental health nurses and social workers.
New data shows that across Victoria emergency departments experienced a 19 per cent increase in mental health patients over the past four years, while Barwon Health has seen a 47 per cent rise in three years.
Mr Andrews said the invest- ment would free up frontline resources.
“Our hardworking ED nurses and doctors at Barwon Health are dealing with more mental health patients than ever before,” he said.
“This will take the pressure off them, so more Geelong fam- ilies get the emergency care they need.”
The reform, which extends to five other hospitals, is also aimed at improving the safety of hospital staff and patients.
“If something happens to your family, the emergency department should be a safe place ... being able to separate people makes common sense and you get great outcomes for everyone,” Mr Andrews said.
He congratulated the Geelong Advertiser on its coverage of the issue.
“That’s the great strength of the Geelong Advertiser, (it’s) very in touch with the local community and we’re very grateful for the campaign they have run,” he said.
Construction of the 1020sq m hub is scheduled to start in June next year and is expected to be completed by 2023.