Minister Assisting on Health (Mental Health) Barbara Perry said the new unit, which includes six acute mental health beds including two high dependency unit beds, will be ready for admissions from next week.

Ms Perry said members of the community are invited to an open day and barbecue at the unit on Thursday, August 12 from 11am to 1pm.

She said the new facility will reduce the need for local mental health patients to travel outside the district for inpatient care.

“This unit will provide local care for those with acute mental health problems needing assessment, stabilisation and treatment in a safe and secure therapeutic environment,” Ms Perry said.

“This new unit will also reduce the reliance on police and ambulance-assisted transport to outlying mental health units.”

Features of the new unit include:

• Specialist mental health nursing and medical staff;

• Six acute mental health beds, including two high dependency unit beds;

• Single rooms;

• A central staff station with line of sight to all rooms;

• Multi-purpose family-friendly visiting and consulting space;

• State of the art privacy and personal safety inclusions;

• A private entrance from transport vehicles and ambulances.

Director of Clinical Operations, Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol for Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS), David West, said GSAHS was extremely pleased with its success in recruiting a strong team of mental health professionals for Bega.

Clinical care in the unit will be provided by a career medical officer, two visiting consultant psychiatrists, a nurse unit manager and 15 mental health nurses.

The unit’s staff will work closely with clinicians from the Bega Valley Community Mental Health team to ensure comprehensive follow-up and community based care for patients discharged from the unit.

“The open day will be a great opportunity for local residents to visit this tremendous new facility before it opens and meet the local mental health team,” Ms Perry said.