MEDIA RELEASE: Additional beds to reduce waiting times at Thomas Embling Hospital

Forensicare have congratulated the Victorian Government on providing a further $7m to build 10 additional beds at Thomas Embling Hospital.

The new funding was announced today by the Minister for Mental Health, the Honourable Martin Foley, at an event to mark the commencement of the construction of the new $9.5m 8 bed Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (SPICU) at Thomas Embling Hospital.

Forensicare Board Chair, Bill Healy, welcomed the news and congratulated the Victorian Government for showing leadership on such an important issue.

“The significant growth in the prison population combined with the growth of forensic patients has resulted in limited capacity at Thomas Embling Hospital and considerable waiting times for acutely mentally ill prisoners”

“The new funding combined with the construction of the Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, will create much needed additional beds to service mentally ill prisoners requiring compulsory treatment under the Mental Health Act 2014. It is a great first step towards improving forensic mental health services” Mr Healy said.

The new funding will provide an additional 10 beds and expanded communal spaces on existing units in the hospital for prison patients requiring more than 2-3 weeks care. It will also support the new 8 bed Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit announced in the 2015/2016 State Budget.

Forensicare CEO Tom Dalton said Forensicare appreciates the work being done by both the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice and Regulation in addressing the issues experienced by people with mental illness caught up in the criminal justice system.

He said Forensicare will continue to work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure the forensic mental health sector can continue to actively respond to and care for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens.

The 10 new beds will be constructed in conjunction with the Secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. They will enable Thomas Embling Hospital to admit forensic patients (patients found not guilty by reason of mental impairment) in a more timely way. The new beds and additional expanded living spaces are expected to be completed later this year.

The new 8 bed SPICU, which will provide a high demand service for acutely unwell prisoners, will be completed in early 2018. The total cost of both projects is $16.5m.

For media enquiries email Melanie Starr, Communications Lead at melanie.starr@forensicare.vic.gov.au.