NORTHERN Health last week welcomed the first patients into its Northern Hospital Mental Health Unit.
The new building features 30 acute inpatient mental health beds and a modern design, as well as technologically-enhanced sensory rooms and courtyards with in-built exercise equipment.
The rooms and communal spaces are designed to be light, supportive and flexible to accommodate the changing needs of patients throughout their stay.
Patients will also have access to a range of shared internal spaces for social, therapeutic and recreational activities.
Mental health executive director Belinda Scott said the building came as a result of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
“This new facility will allow us to implement a model of care that realises the vision of the Royal Commission,” she said.
“It is fantastic to see the impact the input from our lived-experience consumers has had on the final result – this unit is a functional space for staff to work in and a comfortable environment for patients to recover in.”
On August 15, Northern Health hosted a Mental Health Open Day, which included a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, along with speeches from staff and lived-experience patients, and a performance from the Northern Health Community Choir.
Northern Health chief executive Siva Sivarajah said he was proud to see the facility operational.
“I am proud and pleased to see this facility open, filled with staff capable and committed to providing mental health patients with the support they need, close to their homes, families and support networks,” he said.
