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 News
Flash
DEVELOPMENT
OF A NEW FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY
The
Public Service Association (PSA) attended a meeting at James Nash
House on Thursday 26 July 2007 where the Chief Executive of Health,
Dr Tony Sherbon, announced new facilities for James Nash House to be
built as part of the proposed Corrections Prison Complex at Mobilong.
The
following points were made in the announcement:
-
The
Department of Health (DH) intends to move away from
correctional/custodial facilities to secure health campus facilities
with primary focus on mental health recovery;
-
It
will be a 40 bed facility with room to increase (which is the
existing 30 beds at James Nash House and 10 secure beds from
Glenside);
-
Expected
completion date will be end 2011/2012;
-
To
be part of the Private Public Partnership (PPP) with the
correctional facilities being developed at the same time. However,
it will be a separate facility run by Country Health SA ($35-$40m
project). Whist it will be a stand-alone unit with separate
management, it will share the services of hotel service areas;
-
Transport
for clients' families will be part of the PPP;
-
There
is to be a two to three month consultative process established;
-
There
are no design concepts yet as these will be developed in
consultation with staff;
-
It
is likely there will be an increase in the demand for services at
Murray Bridge Hospital and from other health providers, therefore
these additional demands will be taken into account in the planning;
-
There
have been no decisions on models of care to be implemented;
-
Incentive
packages are being considered. These initiatives will be discussed
with the unions. It is likely that they will be similar to the
packages being offered to Correctional Service Staff;
-
DH
is aware that they will also need to look at other recruitment
strategies;
-
The
Community Team and Outpatient Clinics will not move. There was no
plan about where they will be, given that the current facilities are
not appropriate in the long term;
-
The
PSA is meeting with Mr Derek Wright, Director Mental Health
Operations from DH, to discuss further.
Staff
attending the meeting raised many issues of concern. These included
the difficulties in attracting staff to Mobilong, the additional
costs involved in providing treatment at a remote location, the
impact the additional travel would have on the courts system
generally and the lack of consultation with staff providing the
services prior to Cabinet making this decision.
The
PSA will continue to consult with members and management in relation
to this proposed relocation to ensure that all issues are seriously
addressed by management.
If
you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email Industrial
Officer Sue Cummins on sc@cpsu.asn.au
or call 8205 3260.
PSA
WORKING FOR MEMBERS IN MENTAL HEALTH
1 August 2007
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