A new, specialised Safe Assessment Unit, set to operate as part of Shellharbour Hospital's emergency department (ED), will provide more targeted support and treatment to some of the community's most vulnerable patients.
Minister for Health Ryan Park and Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson today toured the Hospital's new Safe Assessment Unit.
Safe Assessment Units are designed to better support people presenting to EDs with behavioural disturbances associated with alcohol and drugs, often co-occurring with mental health conditions or social crisis, who may be vulnerable and become overwhelmed by the busy ED environment.
The Unit will provide a safe, low stimulus environment in which patients can be admitted, assessed, and treated by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who work across mental health, clinical pharmacology and alcohol and drug teams.
Similar models of care have resulted in improved patient outcomes, reduced need for sedation and restraint, as well as a reduction in the length of stay and time to be seen in EDs.
To ensure patients receive ongoing support after discharge, care will be provided through collaboration with the community alcohol and other drug sector, the community mental health sector and other health and community services.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"This new Safe Assessment Unit will help reduce pressure on Shellharbour's busy emergency department by providing more appropriate care and treatment to drug and alcohol presentations.
"Safe Assessment Units create a safe environment, not only for patients presenting with disturbances associated with alcohol and drugs, but also for our frontline health workers and other patients presenting to our emergency departments."
Quotes attributable to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:
"I am so pleased this specialised service will become available to the Shellharbour community in the near future.
"This new Unit will provide better support to our hardworking frontline health staff, and more timely, personalised care to some of the most vulnerable members of our community."
