The Iemma Government will add more than 300 mental health beds to the State's hospitals over the next three years, NSW Parliament was told today. Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Paul Lynch said the extra beds were part of the Iemma Government's record $1.05 billion mental health budget.
Mr Lynch said more than 450 beds had been provided throughout the State between 2001 and 2007.
"The Iemma Government understands the need to deliver quality mental health services, from extra hospital beds to accommodation support in the community," he said.
Between July 2008 and July 2011, more than additional beds will be provided at:
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Lismore - 15 extra beds at the 40-bed Acute Unit
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Lismore - 8 bed Child and Adolescent Unit
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Wollongong - 14-bed Specialist Older Persons Unit
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Bloomfield at Orange - 82 forensic and tertiary beds
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Coffs Harbour - 20-bed Non-Acute Unit
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Shellharbour - 20-bed Non-Acute Unit
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Sutherland - 20-bed Non-Acute Unit
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James Fletcher at Newcastle - 20-bed Non-Acute Unit
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Malabar Forensic Hospital - 36 extra beds for 135-bed unit
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Long Bay Prison - 40-bed hospital
Mr Lynch said the Iemma Government's Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC) initiative was taking pressure off hospital emergency departments.
"The Iemma Government established these four to six-bed units alongside major metropolitan hospital emergency departments," he said.
"PECCs can admit mental health patients for up to 48 hours for observation and immediate care," Mr Lynch said.
"They improve access to specialist mental health care and take pressure off our hospital emergency departments by freeing up resources," he said.
The latest PECC was officially opened in Campbelltown on Friday.
Mr Lynch said a further four beds were due to open in Wollongong later this year.
He told Parliament an evaluation of PECCs showed the Iemma Government was making progress in improving access to quality mental health care.
He said the review found PECCs had reduced short admissions at acute units and reduced delays in assessing and treating patients.