New mental health ward in development at St Andrew's

A NEW $7 million mental health ward at St Andrew's Hospital in Toowoomba is ahead of schedule and is set to open early next year.

A NEW $7million mental health ward at St Andrew's Hospital in Toowoomba is ahead of schedule and is set to open early next year.

Hospital CEO Ray Fairweather said the 20-bed facility was desperately needed to replace the current 16-bed unit.

"Our 16-bed unit is at capacity and we do have a waiting list that can range from 10 people every week to as low as three," he said. "The additional beds will go towards meeting that demand."

He said work began on the facility in February.

"Ten private psychiatrists support the unit, it'll be a boost to the community," he said.

"We have introduced a number of day programs for patients to access our services and stay in their own bed overnight. There's nothing like it in Toowoomba."

St Andrew's Hospital progress on building of new mental health ward. October 2018. Picture: Bev Lacey

Clinical nurse manager Jamie Wann said the new ward would be less clinical for patients.

"It will have some softer colours and softer touches. It will be a bit more inviting and calming for patients," he said.

"The evidence says the environment of a mental health unit impacts the recovery of patients."

The hospital will also host an event tomorrow aimed at providing tradies with the tools to deal with mental health.

Mr Wann said it was important to provide tradies and construction workers with information on how to tackle mental health issues as they were statically more likely to have mental health problems. The free session will run at the hospital from 6pm.

Originally published as New mental health ward in development at St Andrew's