New 18-bed mental health inpatient unit planned for RDH takes first step forward with release of design tender
Mental health capacity at RDH is set to be increased with the release of the first tender for a new mental health unit and dedicated stabilisation and referral area.
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MENTAL health capacity at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) will soon be increased with the release of the first tender for a new 18-bed mental health unit and dedicated stabilisation and referral area.
The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics on Monday released a design tender for a series of new mental health facilities at the hospital, which are being supported by $30m funding from the federal government.
The facilities will include a new mental health inpatient unit with “at least” 18 beds, a stabilisation and referral area and a transition zone between the two facilities.
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Tender documents say the facilities are intended to provide a “stepped care approach” to mental health care, “which means people receive support that matches their level of need”.
“To enable this transition, new and upgraded facilities need to be developed at the Royal Darwin Hospital Campus to augment the existing facilities,” they read.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the facilities would boost mental health care at RDH.
“Both facilities will complement existing mental health facilities at the Royal Darwin Hospital and work closely with the RDH Emergency Department,” she said.
“They will also support other mental health initiatives such as the co-response model and the new Adult Mental Health Centre.”
It comes after Ms Fyles addressed questions from Mix 104.9FM’s Katie Woolf on Tuesday regarding 17 mental health patients who could not be accommodated at the hospital’s mental health ward last week because of a lack of beds.
“I do acknowledge that mental health patients have caused a burden on RDH and I’m working with RDH and the Department of Health around how we can alleviate those pressures,” she said.
“This is an issue that we’re working through with investment in more beds at RDH.”
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