Cairns mental health services receive $27m funding boost

Cairns residents accessing mental health care will soon be able to access centralised, specialist health care thanks to a multimillion-dollar funding boost.

CHHHS mental health service director Wade Norrie, CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh and Cairns MP Michael Healy announce the Miles Government $27.3 million pledge to integrate Cairns' mental health facilities for better patient care. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

Mentally unwell patients in Cairns will be able to access centralised, specialist health care thanks to a multimillion-dollar investment.

The state government announced $27.3m to integrate mental healthcare services in Cairns including drug and alcohol rehabilitation on Friday.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said it was a “game-changer”.

“This investment into our mental health facilities and the community here is a game changer and a really positive event for our staff and community of patients,” Ms Singh said.

“Our consumers have high confidence in our service and this will enable them to be able to access those services earlier than what they often do at the moment.”

The Cairns Integrated Mental Health Service currently provides community mental health services, with Alcohol and Other Drug Services located in a different building.

But the redevelopment will create an existing health facility with services including AODS, primary healthcare and non-government organisations to provide other specialty services for mental health clients under one roof.

CHHHS mental health service director Wade Norrie, CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh and Cairns MP Michael Healy announce the Miles Government $27.3 million pledge to integrate Cairns' mental health facilities for better patient care. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

Ms Singh said streamlined access to mental health care would ease the pressure on the hospital.

“This avoids people from escalating and ending up in our hospitals as well,” she said.

“The combined integrated mental health facility will allow seamless movement, but also allow our condition clinicians to wrap around those consumers and make sure that they are getting the best level of care.”

CHHHS mental health service director Wade Norrie said the funding would expand and strengthen the relationships between existing mental health services.

“We look at our relationships with our community partners and (this will) centralise our services to provide greater access and opportunity,” Mr Norrie said.

Mr Norrie said the funding would also be used to expand the workforce in the local mental health sector.

“(It’s important) for us as a service to expand and grow our workforce, (and provide) more opportunities for employment for the health profession,” he said.

“With this money we’ll be putting in place two new peer workers, lived experienced staff, we’ll be expanding our education team and looking to bring auxiliary services closer together in one place.”

Originally published as Cairns mental health services receive $27m funding boost