An innovative pilot program which embeds mental health specialists in paramedic response vehicles will help take pressure off the State’s emergency departments and deliver better services.
The pilot of the Mental Health Co-Response (MH CORE), enabled more than half of patients engaged to be diverted towards more appropriate services within the community.
The success of the pilot has triggered the extension of the program until June next year.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, said the Program would complement other Marshall Government initiatives, such as doubling the capacity of the Flinders Medical Centre Emergency Department, and deliver better services for people around South Australia.
“Our focus is on improving health services for people throughout South Australia and this Program is helping us to achieve that,” Minister Wade said.
“We have already invested more than $1 billion dollars into health and recently we announced over $84 million to expand health services in Adelaide’s south which are designed to significantly improve patient care and ease ambulance ramping,” Minister Wade said.
“We acknowledge there are significant challenges in the treatment of mental health patients through our emergency care systems and this program is helping to address that.
“If a patient can be diverted away from an emergency department towards more appropriate care in the community, that is a win for the patient and a win for our hospitals.”
The partnership between SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) and Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) joins up paramedics with specialist mental health staff when responding to patients in crisis.
SA Ambulance Service, Chief Executive Officer, David Place, confirmed the development of the Mental Health Co-Response program (MH CORE) following a successful trial.
“Over the course of the trial, MH CORE saw more than 50 per cent of patients avoid hospital, with crews transporting them to more appropriate mental health services within the community,” Mr Place said.
On average, SAAS responds to over 1400 calls involving mental health patients each month.
MH CORE allows these patients to be assessed with fewer requiring transport to busy emergency departments.
“Being able to assess and treat mental health patients in a tailored manner not only benefits the patient, but keeps our paramedics on the roads and frees up staff in emergency departments,” he said.
Dr Leslie Stephan, Clinical Director of the CALHN Mental Health Directorate, said the network was delighted to continue to support the unique program.
“We know that mental health patients have complex needs and require specialised care,” Dr Stephan said.
“Patients whose mental health deteriorates often become distressed by being in a busy and challenging environment such as a hospital emergency department. By responding with the right specialist care we are able to provide a more effective service,” he said.
MH CORE will operate in metropolitan Adelaide during select hours on weekdays.
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