High security hospital waiting rooms for ice-affected patients

DANGEROUS ice-affected patients will be separated from families and children in hospital waiting rooms, under an unprecedented $100.5 million plan in Victoria.

DANGEROUS ice-affected patients will be separated from families and children in hospital waiting rooms, under an unprecedented $100.5 million plan in Victoria.

The new crisis hubs will be set up by the Andrews Government at six major hospitals — Monash Medical Centre, St Vincent’s, Royal Melbourne, Geelong, Sunshine and Frankston.

The move will see erratic and uncontrollable patients sent directly to the higher security facilities, to prevent them from wreaking havoc in the main waiting rooms containing other sick and injured patients.

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Construction of the hubs will begin in June 2019 with all six are to be completed in 2023.

The radical move comes as violence continues to rise in emergency rooms across the state.

Last year, the government rolled out new safety measures including stab-proof vests at some hospitals.

The new ice and mental illness treatment hubs are part of a broader plan introduced in the ongoing battle against Victoria’s drug scourge.

Other initiatives include the establishment of a new $59 million centre to treat addicts and offenders with mental health issues who pose an unacceptable risk.

The centre will be set up later this year after new legislation is passed to allow “high risk” people to be held involuntarily for treatment, a change recommended in the Coghlan Review into bail issues prompted by the Bourke St massacre.

The new ice and mental illness treatment hubs are part of a broader plan.

Rehab centres in regional Victoria will also be boosted with treatment facilities to be established in Barwon, Gippsland and the Hume region under a $40.6 million plan.

Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley said it was a historic move and part of an overall $705 million plan to address addiction and psychological health.

“All of us know someone who has struggled with mental illness or addiction and have seen the heavy toll it takes on families and communities,” he said.

Teens and young people dealing with addiction and mental health will also be targeted with $11.9 million to develop a new 20 bed prevention centre in Melbourne CBD.

And police funds to address drugs on Victorian roads will be increased allowing an additional 50,000 roadside drug tests to be carried out each year, as part of a broader $26 million package.

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