Sunshine Hospital unit boosts mental health

About 400 patients at Sunshine Hospital will receive faster mental health care each year following the opening of a new psychiatric unit.

The $6 million psychiatric assessment and planning unit (PAPU) was officially opened last Tuesday.

The four-bed unit will provide access to short-term specialist assessment and treatment for people experiencing acute mental illness, relieving demand on inpatient beds.

“This means that almost half, approximately 400 patients, will get faster access to the short-term assessment and treatment they really need,” Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge said.