The mental health intensive care unit (MHICU) at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital claimed the Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services Award with its project ‘Reducing Time in Seclusion in the Mental Health Intensive Care Unit’.

MHICU Nurse Unit Manager James Wall said the fact the competition was of such a high calibre made it all the sweeter to win.

“The other nominees had terrific projects; we were just happy to be nominated in the end but it was a nice surprise to win,” he said.

He paid tribute to his staff and the support the team received as part of their project, which has greatly benefitted consumers and staff alike.

“It’s really rewarding for the team to see their hard work pay off,” James said.

“It has been a goal of the unit for a number of years to manage behavioural disturbance in a least restrictive and trauma informed manner and reduce the use of seclusion and restraint.

“The feedback from people who have been admitted to the unit, when they recover, and their families has been really positive and our overall rates of acute behavioural disturbance, including injury rates to people in the unit and staff, have reduced as well.”

Chief Executive Deb Willcox said she was proud of the teams involved and looked forward to seeing the projects continue to improve the lives of patients and consumers into the future.