campbelltown hospital inpatient mental health services

CAMPBELLTOWN HOSPITAL INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTHSERVICESINFORMATION SHEET No. 3Campbelltown Hospital Mental Health Acute In-PatientServices provide a place of safety and treatment for people inthe acute phase of a mental illnessTreatment is provided in a hospital setting when a person is at risk of harm tothemselves or others because of mental illness, or when the person needs moreintensive care and treatment than can be provided in the community. There arefour acute inpatient Units at Campbelltown Hospital; Waratah, Gna Ka Lun,Birunji & PECC.How are the Units staffed?Nurses, Consultant Psychiatrists, Registrars, Social Workers, OccupationalTherapists, Psychologists and other health professionals staff the Units. Each hastheir own specialised skills and role, and work together as a member of themultidisciplinary treatment team. Chaplaincy services are also available.CAMPBELLTOWN HOSPITALMain Switch 4634 3000••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••WARATAH: Adult Mental HealthUnitStaff Station 4634 4217Patient Phone 4634 4221Visiting Hours: Mon - Fri12.30pm - 1.30pm, 4.00pm -5.00pm & 6.00pm - 8.00pm;Sat - Sun & PH: 10.00am -8.00pm••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••BIRUNJI: Youth Mental HealthUnitStaff Station 4634 4282Reception 4634 4255Visiting Hours:Mon - Fri 4.00pm - 8.00pm;Sat - Sun & PH: 10.00am -8.00pm••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••GNA KA LUN: Adolescent MentalHealth UnitStaff Station 4634 4444Patient Phone 4634 4444Visiting Hours:Mon - Fri 4.00pm - 8.00pm;Sat - Sun & PH: 10.00am -8.00pm••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••PECC: Psychiatric EmergencyCare Centre - near EmergencyStaff Station 4634 4951Patient Phone 4634 4950Visiting Hours: 10.00am -12.00noon, 3.00pm - 5.30pm &6.30pm - 8.30pmHow can I contact staff or my relative?You are welcome to contact staff members caring for your relative at any time.The nurse in charge of the shift is the best person to put you in contact with themost appropriate member of the treating team. The direct contact numbers,patient phone numbers and visiting hours for each of the Units are listed in theleft column.Is it possible to have some privacy while visiting?Yes. There are some private areas in all the Units that are available if required.Please talk to a staff member for this to be arranged.Can children visit the Unit?Yes they can, however it is important that this is well managed. All visits bychildren should be planned ahead with the NUM and/or treating team to decidewhether it is possible on the day. Children visiting any of the Units should be wellsupervised by a responsible adult at all times, and on some Units can only occurin a private or specified room. At Waratah, children are not allowed into the AcuteObservation Unit, Games Room and Activity Room.Can my relative leave the hospital?Please check with your relative's treating team. We try to find a balance betweensafety and independence. In the early stages of an admission there may be legalconstraints limiting leave. When possible, staff encourage a process of gradedleave, increasing over time. Patients do not generally have leave from the AcuteObservation Unit in Waratah, except on certain occasions when they are escortedby staff.Can I be present when my relative sees the Doctor or Magistrate?Under the Mental Health Act 2007 the ‘nominated primary carer’ has specifiedrights to information and involvement regarding the care of the patient, and to beinformed of and attend Magistrate hearings. There is a regular meeting of staffinvolved in the care of your relative to discuss their progress, called 'care review'.It may be possible for you to attend this meeting and/or other consultations. Thestaff can best advise you regarding attendance. Where possible it is alsorecommended that you discuss this with your relative.What activities are available on the Units?Occupational Therapists (& Diversional Therapists on Birunji) coordinate activitieswhich include meal preparation, art, relaxation skills, exercise, gardening andeducation sessions on a range of topics. The particular activities available at anygiven time varies between Units. PECC has minimal activities due to shortadmissions.area mental health services • south-west cluster • family information series • 2009 page 1

CAMPBELLTOWN HOSPITAL INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTHSERVICESAre there any rules which my relative needs to be aware of?Yes, there are some important rules. These are:lighters and matches are not allowed in the Units. Free Nicotine ReplacementTherapy (NRT) is available to consumers in the Units in various forms including‘patches’ and ‘gum’, and if desired, arrangements can be made for these followingdischarge as well.WORKING WITH FAMILIESINFORMATION SERIES 2009Information Sheet No.3cannot accept responsibility for items brought into the Units. Patients areencouraged to give them to a trusted family member or carer for safekeepingduring their stay in hospital. While in the Observation Unit in Waratah, if this is notpossible, mobile phones, valuables, credit cards and money (up to $50) will bekept in the Unit's safe. On some Units small amounts of money (up to $10) can bekept in patient lockers. Amounts of money over $50 can be either sent home orsecurely deposited with the hospital cashier until discharge.Units for privacy reasonsthe Units.What happens when my relative is ready for discharge?Planning for someone to leave hospital usually occurs at the care review meeting.However discharges can occur at any time, particularly if the patient is voluntary.Usually family and carers can be involved, where appropriate and agreed to by thepatient, in treatment, discharge and recovery planning. The ‘nominated primarycarer’ has the right to be involved in discharge planning.If your relative requires further treatment and care on returning home, this will beorganised by the treating team and usually involves follow-up by the localcommunity mental health team and your general practitioner.Family & Carer Support ServicesCARER ASSIST, our partner non-government service provider, offers information,education, advocacy and support to people who care for someone with a mentalillness, as well as to any family members. This free service can be providedindividually or in groups, and includes; assistance in navigating the mental healthsystem, providing information on mental illness and services, coping with grief,building support systems and advocacy. Phone: 4620 5255Consumer Support WorkersConsumer Support Workers are independent persons employed by the healthservice who can provide information on consumer rights and responsibilities inrelation to their care and treatment. They also provide advocacy, self-advocacyfacilitation, peer support services and education. Phone: 4629 5400What if my family member does not speak English?Please ask the nursing or medical staff if you would like an interpreter to bebooked. Telephone interpreting is also available if the need is urgent.What about transport and parking?Free parking is available at the front of the main entrance of CampbelltownHospital. Limited parking is available adjacent to the inpatient Units. Macarthurrailway station, on the Airport, East Hills and Southern line, is approximately 25minutes walk from the hospital. You can catch a connecting bus: Busways 888 or887 at rank 4 or Interline/Busabout 870, 871 or 872 at the car park off GilchristDrive. Campbelltown railway station, on the South, Cumberland, Airport, EastHills and Inner West lines, is approximately 35 minutes walk. You can catch aconnecting bus: Busways 888 or 887 at rank B.area mental health services • south-west cluster • family information series • 2009 page 2