Eligibility
Males aged 18 – 65 years who have a diagnosed mental illness or disorder, and who place the safety of others or self at risk through verbal or physical aggression; are an absconding risk with the potential for self-harm or danger to others and/or require further assessment on admission to hospital in a contained area prior to moving to a less restrictive environment.
Exclusion criteria:
- People who require acute care for symptoms of severe mental illness
- People with a primary diagnosis of developmental disability
- People who are unable to benefit from a rehabilitation / recovery program.
Referral
The Care Coordinator contacts the Mental Health Community Liaison Consultant, by phoning 02 9887 5500. An assessment interview will be arranged when a hospital bed becomes available. The assessment interview will include members of the referring team, the patient and carer(s).
Urgent cases
There are several options to access urgent mental health care:
Ring the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. This line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be able to speak with a clinician who can provide recommendations about how to manage the situation or put you in contact with the appropriate mental health team.
In urgent cases you can attend the Emergency Department at Royal North Shore Hospital where there is 24 hour access to specialist mental health care and support.
If the situation is urgent or becoming dangerous ring Triple Zero (000) and request ambulance and/or police. They will be able to assist the person safely to the hospital Emergency Department to access mental health care.
Other information
Visiting hours are arranged by contact with the Nursing Unit Manager.
A Carers Amenities Centre is available in First Avenue on the Macquarie Hospital site. The Centre provides a microwave, TV and tea and coffee making facilities. A key to open the Centre can be accessed from each hospital unit.
Patients and visitors are asked to avoid bringing some items into the mental health inpatient unit. These include valuables and contraband items. Contraband items include anything that can be used as a weapon or means to harm a person, such as razors, metal blades and lighters. People may be searched by staff if there is reasonable suspicion that they have weapons, prohibited items, drugs or other contraband on them.
All wards in NSW Health facilities are smoke free. Visitors are therefore requested not to bring in any cigarettes for patients to hospital units. Smokers will be supported in their drug withdrawal with appropriate clinical care and the provision of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy during their stay.
Hospital Fees: there are no hospital fees charged if patients are admitted and discharged from the Parkview Acute Admission Unit, however, if patients are admitted to a Rehabilitation Unit directly from the community, the first 60 days of hospitalisation are free. If patients are admitted from an acute unit, fees are based on the period patients have spent in an acute unit. Hospital fees are charged at approximately two thirds of the Centrelink payment.
