Mental health patients will have a better inpatient facility as part of the improved RHH Redevelopment project, with revised plans available for staff comment from today.
The Liberal Government committed an additional $2.4 million in 2014 to redesign the mental health precinct, as a direct result of our intervention to fix Labor’s disastrous redevelopment mess. This approach will provide a more contemporary facility and more outdoor space critical for patient therapy and recovery.
A group of mental health staff and consumer and carer representatives started working on the redesign of levels two and three of the K-Block in January 2015.
Significant improvements have already been incorporated in the redesign work. This includes a secure area for vulnerable patients, more single-bed rooms and more high-dependency beds and a de-escalation room.
The working group will continue to refine the floor plans over the coming weeks.
All staff on the wards will also have an opportunity to provide feedback. Current plans are out for consultation today and an open day for all ward staff will be held on February 12. The AMA and unions are also being kept up to date with consultation on the redesign.
During construction of K-Block, mental health inpatients will be accommodated in the temporary facility to be built in the Liverpool Street forecourt later in the year as a proper response to the dangerous lack of patient decant plans in the project we inherited. The temporary facility is being designed alongside the redesign of K-Block.
Construction of the temporary facility, estimated to cost approximately $18 million, will be tendered during March. It will be fabricated offsite and installed in the Liverpool Street forecourt by the end of the year.
The $657 million RHH Redevelopment project is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health
