03 June 2008

Funding boost for mental health services

Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Paul Lynch said the Iemma Government is investing $1.1 billion in 2008-09 to upgrade mental health facilities, boost services and enhance the mental health workforce across NSW.

"The Iemma Government is committed to providing better access to mental health services right across the state," Mr Lynch said.

"The 2008-09 Health Budget marks the third year of the Government's five-year plan to enhance mental health services and provides an additional $41 million on last year's budget."

The 2008-09 mental health budget will expand a range of services, including:

• $6.85 million over two years to expand 24-hour community mental health emergency care through recruitment of additional mental health professionals at more than 20 locations across the state
• $3.1 million to recruit an additional 16 clinicians to expand the Mental Health Community Rehabilitation Program
• $2.1 million to enhance specialist mental health services for older people, including the recruitment of additional specialist staff such as old-age psychiatrists, psycho-geriatric nurses and allied health professionals
• $2.6 million for expansion of child and adolescent mental health services
• $9.4 million in additional funding to open new mental health facilities, including the Concord Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit
• $1 million to enhance the existing Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) to develop a more culturally appropriate program for Aboriginal people.

Mr Lynch said mental health facilities have also received a major boost in the budget.

"The Iemma Government is investing $39 million towards capital works project in 2008-09, delivering on our State Plan priority of improving access to quality health care," Mr Lynch said.

Major mental health capital works funding in 2008-09 includes:

• $12.8 million for non-acute mental health units at St George, James Fletcher and Coffs Harbour hospitals as well as $5.9 million to complete these units at Sutherland and Shellharbour hospitals
• $8.3 million to start construction on the Mandala Mental Health Unit at Gosford Hospital
• $3.8 million to advance new Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres at Prince of Wales Hospital and Wollongong Hospital
• $577,000 for the completion of the Illawarra older Persons Mental Health Unit at Wollongong Hospital
• $7.3 million towards child and adolescent mental health services at Sydney Children's Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital.

The Iemma Government's $214 million investment in the Orange Hospital Campus Redevelopment will provide a major enhancement to mental health facilities for people living in the Greater West region.

"The Iemma Government has also increased its commitment to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people with a mental illness, with an additional $15.2 million over four years through the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI), commencing with $1 million in 2008-09," Mr Lynch said.

"This will see an enhancement of the HASI program to ensure the provision of more culturally-appropriate mental health services for Aboriginal people."

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au