Mental Health Short Stay Unit officially opens

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to ensuring Tasmanians who need mental health support can get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

That’s why a new Mental Health Short Stay Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital has been established to provide a more therapeutic

environment for people presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with mental health issues who require specialist care for 24-48 hours.

The creation of the six bed Unit came in response to increasing mental health related presentations at the ED in recent years.

The Unit will provide an in-reach service to the ED 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure those patients requiring medical treatment continue to have access to specialist mental health support.

As a critical new component of the Tasmanian Government’s acute mental health facilities, the new Unit will improve patient care and flow by providing more support to the ED.  

It will be staffed by a pool of specialist mental health clinicians including nurses, allied health and medical staff.

The Tasmanian Government’s significant reform agenda will continue to build a better mental health system that is responsive to the needs of people with mental health challenges and their loved ones.  

We have a clear $160 million plan including community-based solutions such as the redevelopment of the Peacock Centre which commenced construction last week, and investment of over $45 million to implement the Government’s Response to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Review.