Far West Mental Health Service

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By March 17, 2015 No Comments

Authors: Special Care Suite

Year: 1994

Event: 1994 TheMHS Awards

Subject: Gold Award Winner 1994

Type of resource: TheMHS Awards

Award state: NSW

Award level: Gold Award

Award category: Innovative Part of a Comprehensive Service

Abstract: The Special Care Suite is a two bedded inpatient unit, situated on the medical ward of Broken Hill Base Hospital. Managed from the community by staff of the Far West Mental Health Service, it provides inpatient treatment for clients in this isolated rural region. Furnished like a motel suite, the unit is only opened when required, and is then staffed by general nurses employed on a casual basis and trained by far West Mental Health Service staff. The suite is economical with an $80,000 establishment cost, and costs between $35-40,000 to staff per annum. Lengths of stay average 80 hours and transfers to distant psychiatric hospitals have been dramatically reduced. The suite provides a model for inpatient treatment for rural Australia, that is not only economical but effective and valued by clients.

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