REDEvelopment spotlight focuses on mental health

Members of the hospital's Mental Health team celebrate the commencement of works

As the concrete floor slabs were laid for the first of seven dedicated levels of mental health units being integrated into the new clinical services building (CSB), the district Director of Operations Mental Health, Jenny Glass, could not contain her excitement.

“For the first time ever at Campbelltown, we will have a range of modern mental health units all located in the one building, offering improved connectedness, safety and access to other key medical and support services,” she said.

The new building will feature specialised units providing mental health care across the lifespan, and improved spaces for mental health assessment in the emergency department. 

New and enhanced services will be delivered at Campbelltown, including adolescent services, a gender specific acute unit, a new older person’s service, Mental Health Intensive Care unit, and a medium secure rehabilitation unit supporting people with complex illnesses towards reintegration into community living. 

The new spaces will significantly increase overall mental health service capacity.

Ms Glass said once complete, this redevelopment would provide the ability to deliver contemporary  and evolving models of care, in connection with families and carers, to support the recovery of people experiencing mental health issues.

“We have been so lucky in the design stage to have the benefit of input from community members including consumers and carers, as well as our clinical staff. Their insights have been invaluable.”

“Like all the designs in the new mental health units they will deliver modern private ensuite bedrooms and open light-filled indoor and outdoor spaces; offering a range of therapeutic environments in which people can work towards their recovery with the support of our multi-disciplinary teams."

The older persons and medium secure rehabilitation units being constructed at Campbelltown Hospital are the first to be delivered under the NSW Government’s 10-year mental health and infrastructure reform initiative.