Cumberland Hospital mental health facility to relocate to Westmead Hospital
Western Sydney will soon be home to the state’s largest mental health service after a $460 million government boost but nurses have dismissed the old announcement as “cheap point scoring”.
Parramatta
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Premier Dominic Perrottet has boasted about injecting $460 million for an overhaul of mental health care in western Sydney when it relocates Cumberland facility into Westmead Hospital — news that has failed to impress frontline nurses.
On Monday, the government said the investment would go towards relocating the “outdated’’ Cumberland Hospital into a modern Westmead Hospital campus where patients will receive modern health care from 2026.
Called the Integrated Mental Health Complex, the centre will have an acute assessment unit; beds for youth, adolescents and adults; treat patients with eating disorders; education facilities and outpatient services.
“More than 1.47 million people are expected to call western Sydney home by 2031 and this development will ensure our diverse communities have access to world-class mental health care, replacing the outdated mental health facilities at Cumberland Hospital,” Mr Perrottet said.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new campus would also improve service to patients living with multiple health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
It will “complement” the $700 million statewide mental health infrastructure program, which has been used to upgrade facilities at places including Blacktown, Tamworth, Campbelltown and Long Bay.
But NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association delegate and mental health nurse Nick Howson brandished the news as a double-dip announcement.
“It’s been announced before and is already under planning and has been for years,’ he said.
“It’s cheap point scoring for political purposes.’’
He lashed out at the premier labelling the 260-bed hospital as outdated, accusing his government “of ignoring the entire mental health sector for decades’’.
“If the Blacktown mental health facilities are anything to go by it’s going to be horrible and ignore all the concerns raised by staff,’’ he said.
He said the practical design of Blacktown Hospital raised staff safety concerns for their patients. That included
“It’s that really dumb stuff that would be fixed if they actually bothered to ask people who are going to be working there,’’ he said.
Covid has thrown more pressure on nurses, including mental health professionals who treat patients with anxiety, depression, drug-induced psychosis and schizophrenia.
Last month, the association urged the government to reduce the speed limit of the Parramatta light rail by half when it travels through Cumberland Hospital.
Staff are concerned the speed presents a safety risk to mental health patients — some who are suicidal.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said it was still finalising rail speeds through the Cumberland precinct and consultation was continuing.
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