A MAJOR milestone in the regions mental health care has been reached with the opening of Hervey Bay’s first mental health inpatient unit (IPU), bringing with it benefits for consumers and staff.
The new 22-bed facility will have a profound impact on mental health services to provide assessment and treatment for people with a mental illness over the age of 18 that require inpatient care.
The design of the new unit was also a collaborative effort with input from consumers, carers, families and lived-experience workers from the beginning through to the final stages.
While the facility provides a therapeutic environment, the staffing is recognised for their commitment to patients in urgent times.
Staffing of the facility is multi-disciplinary, including a social worker, psychologist, medical and nursing, as well as an in-house cook and exercise physiologist.
In January 1999, Paulene Christie was a 24 year old newly graduated nurse starting her career at the new Maryborough Mental Health Inpatient Unit, now exactly 25 years later she has worked the first shift at the new $40 million facility in Hervey Bay.
It is an experience she describes as surreal.
The Fraser Coast’s new 22 bed IPU is now in operating with consumers now making the most of the new offerings and revamped model of care.
Paulene said a highlight of moving into the new space is seeing everything come to life after the long planning and construction stages.
“We needed more beds, we needed fresh and bigger area but also once Maryborough is refurbished we will have a dedicated older persons sub acut unit which is separate from the crowd in the acute ward,” she said.
“So far the feedback from our consumer and families has been wow!”
“Families are pleased to see that their loved ones are being cared for in a brighter and nicer environment with so much to do.”
The registered nurse is looking forward to being able to cover more aspects of the consumers health with the new roles that have been introduced including a social worker, exercise physiologist and a peer ambassador program.
Paulene found her passion for mental health nursing at university and has never looked back.
“I find it rewarding and I have done lots of different roles like community nursing over 25 years but like the impatient setting the most,” she said.
Reflecting on the past two decades Paulene said it is hard to comprehend the progress that has been made in mental health care.
“They have more freedom now with things like mobile phones, the medications are much better, the mental health act has been changed twice and even family inclusiveness is much better,” she said.
“Now acknowledging what an important support family and friends can be in a person’s recovery journey we have families in for barbeques and meetings and there is a more holistic care of them.”
