Tuesday 3 May 2022
Communities in Far West NSW will benefit from a significant upgrade to the Broken Hill Health Service as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to regional and rural health.
The NSW Government has committed to upgrading Broken Hill Health Service’s acute mental health inpatient unit, emergency department and a new virtual intensive care (vICU) service.
The upgraded mental health facilities will deliver a modern therapeutic space with co-designed facilities for people with mental health needs, their families, carers and staff, ensuring people in Broken Hill and surrounding areas have access to the best mental health care.
A scoping study has commenced and design options for the acute mental health inpatient unit are currently being developed.
The new vICU service will link critically ill patients and their Far West Local Health District (LHD) clinicians with Sydney-based specialists. The model of care uses remote monitoring and video conferencing to connect clinicians, patients and carers in Broken Hill Health Service with intensive care staff at Sydney LHD’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and virtual hospital, rpavirtual.
The planned upgrade to the mental health unit will be funded as part of the $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program (SWMHIP), the largest investment in mental health care infrastructure by a NSW government.
The redevelopment will complement the $10 million upgrade of the Broken Hill Emergency Department announced as part of the NSW Government’s $500 million for rural and regional health infrastructure.
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