$16m annual funding confirmed for new 24-bed mental health ward at Royal Darwin Hospital
The NT government has confirmed multimillion-dollar funding to operate the new mental health unit.
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The Northern Territory government has confirmed multimillion-dollar funding to operate the new mental health unit under construction at Royal Darwin Hospital, expected to open mid-next year.
Funding of $16m a year will be allocated to operate the 24-bed facility from this financial year, with an additional $500,000 for the purchase of medical equipment.
The $86.3m mental health unit will provide a dedicated space for patients experiencing acute mental health crises and will assist to reduce bed block, improving patient flow and health service capacity.
Health Minister Steve Edgington said the operating funds, which will be included in this year’s Territory Budget, would help RDH to improve patient care and safety, alleviate bed shortages and provide improved mental health services across the Territory.
“The construction of this facility will not only reduce the burden on the emergency department but enhance patient outcomes and safety,” he said.
The new funding will provide about 56 staff for a 24/7 roster, including nursing, medical, allied health, radiology and pathology professions.
It will also be used to purchase hospital beds and other equipment for the ward as well as cover ongoing costs for utilities, catering, cleaning, pharmacy, clinical consumables and security.
“This investment will improve acute mental health service capacity and make sure people can be cared for in an appropriate purpose-built facility that complements broader programs aimed at harm minimisation and improving the health and wellbeing of Territorians,” Mr Edgington said.
Two of the three levels of the new building will support 18 inpatient beds, support services and a six-bed Stabilisation Assessment and Referral Area, with the third level to meet future capacity and health service needs.
This facility will be connected to the emergency department via an elevated enclosed walkway across Nightingale Rd.
Meanwhile, NT Health chief executive Chris Hosking said the RDH emergency department was yet to begin using Acacia – more than a year after the new digital patient records system was suspended in ED amid widespread problems with the program.
Acacia has been rolled out in most RDH departments, but about 10 per cent of emergency clinicians are not using the software.
“We’ve undertaken, in partnership with our software partners, around 180 different enhancements to the software,” Mr Hosking said.
“We’re very close to implementing Acacia in Tennant Creek and Alice Springs hospitals, and we’re working towards a go-live in Central Australia around the middle of the year.
“By then, we should have fully tested and bedded down the emergency department software for Royal Darwin and Palmerston, and we’ll reintroduce it once we’re through with the central Australian deployment.”
Mr Hosking said he expected all of the Territory’s public hospitals to be using Acacia by the end of September this year.
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