Hervey Bay’s ‘lifesaving’ mental health unit progressing rapidly

Work on a long-awaited Wide Bay mental health unit has reached the halfway mark as plans for the 22-bed building forge ahead.

Work is well underway on the mental health unit set to make a difference to the lives of thousands of people across the Wide Bay.

The $39.6 million dollar project is still under construction next to Hervey Bay Hospital, with the building that will provide 22 beds expected to become operational next year.

The new building will double the mental health bed capacity on the Fraser Coast.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Executive Director of Mental Health and Specialised Services Robyn Bradley said a key focus of the new Hervey Bay unit would be embracing a more consumer-friendly environment and adapting to new technologies that support community members to have a safe stay and benefit from the care they receive.

“We will be employing a project officer to work with staff, consumers and their families to develop appropriate models of care,” she told the Chronicle

“The new facility in Hervey Bay will also be the base of operations for the Community Acute Care Team, which will allow more timely access for consumers and help to divert mental health presentations away from the emergency department.

“When work on the Hervey Bay unit is complete, attention will shift to the transformation of the existing inpatient unit at Maryborough Hospital into a refurbished 10-bed specialist subacute unit focusing on older people’s mental health care.

“WBHHS will be inviting consumers and staff to provide input into the development of this service.

“Our Hervey Bay and Maryborough mental health project will increase overall mental health beds by an additional 18 beds on the Fraser Coast.

Hervey Bay MP at the site where the new $39.6 million mental health unit is being built in Hervey Bay.

“This is a significant increase in capacity in the region that will require additional staff to be employed and it will make a difference as we care for members of our community who need mental health support.”

The construction of the building got underway in November, 2020, and has since progressed quickly.

“This new 22-bed unit marks an important expansion of local mental health services and will also be the base of operations for the Community Acute Care Team,” Queensland Minister Health Yvette D’Ath said.

“It will enable more timely access for consumers and help to divert mental health presentations away from the emergency department.

Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari said the new facility would be a “lifesaving service”.

He said one of his election commitments had been to make sure the mental health unit would be delivered on time.

Mr Tantari said those who needed treatment for their mental health would soon have a specialised service, which would assist patients and staff in the emergency department.

“It’s very exciting to see this project very soon coming online,” he said.

When the project began, Mr Tantari said it would also mean new jobs for the region.

“The inpatient unit will also mean more jobs for the Fraser Coast, with an estimated 115 construction-related jobs created during the build and up to 30 additional ongoing health-related roles once in the region,” he said

Originally published as Hervey Bay’s ‘lifesaving’ mental health unit progressing rapidly