Limited Mental Health Service

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday May 23, 2006

By DEAN SAVAGE

THE Hunter's only acute child and adolescent mental health unit will provide a limited service as it attempts to fill a staff shortage.

The resignation by three senior psychiatrists this month has forced the Child and Adolescent Health Service to cut the number of available beds and lower the admission age for the NEXUS unit, the inpatient service at John Hunter Hospital.

The admission age for acutely mentally ill inpatients will be reduced from 18 to 17 years of age, forcing older patients to seek treatment in Sydneyor at adult psychiatric hospitals.

Hunter New England Mental Health clinical director Professor David Crompton said the measures were intended to allow the service to continue during the recruitment process.

"So far we have had promising discussions with several interested clinicians from interstate and overseas," he said.

"We will be doing everything we can to make sure the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service . . . will be maintained during the time it takes to recruit replacements for these specialist staff with the safety of our patients our highest priority."

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home