By MATT NICHOLLS
A SECTION of doctors and nurses based at Armidale Hospital believe the long-term future of the Armidale’s Mental Health Unit could be at risk.
The Clark Centre was “quietly closed” over the Christmas period, shutting its doors from 23 December to 6 January.
“There was no community consultation about it because the last time they did there was outcry,” said one nurse, who did not wish to be named.
“It wasn’t a staffing issue, either.”
The Clark Centre is a particular concern to many staff at the hospital as there were no local options to provide voluntary mental health care during the closure.
“Police are taking them to the emergency department after hours, but they have to stay overnight because there is no medical transport to Tamworth until the next day,” the nurse said.
“Sometimes two paddy wagons will turn up with four police officers and they’ll take the handcuffs off the patient and leave them with us.
“On nights when you only have one nurse on, it’s almost impossible.”
Maree Bacigalupo, the general manager of Hunter New England’s mental health unit, said the unit was closed due to a lack of demand.
“The decision to close the Clark Centre voluntary mental health unit for two weeks over Christmas was made following a review of the number of patients that have used the service over the Christmas period in the past three years,” she said.
“The review showed self-admissions to the service over the Christmas and New Year period is always very low – in recent years as few as two patients have been cared for at the Clark Centre over Christmas.”
Ms Bacigalupo said while the service was closed, Hunter New England Mental Health remained committed to ensuring clients continued to receive safe and appropriate care.
“A mental health nurse was available in the Armidale emergency department 24 hours a day, seven days a week to treat clients who presented with mental health issues,” she said.
“For clients who needed urgent care, arrangements were in place for their transfer to Banksia at Tamworth Hospital which was staffed over Christmas.”
