Australia's Queensland Government is set to open a new short-stay facility, named ‘Crisis Stabilisation Unit’ (CSU), at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH).

The facility was unveiled by Queensland’s Premier Steven Miles and Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Minister Shannon Fentiman on 5 September.

It has been developed to offer expanded services and a greater number of mental healthcare beds in the region.

Developed with an investment of approximately A$14m ($9.4m), the CSU at TPCH is scheduled to start accepting patients from 16 September.

The CSU features a six-bed short-stay unit, which can accommodate patients for up to three days, designed to address the needs of patients who require specialised and intensive mental health crisis care.

In addition, it can support another six individuals for stays of up to 23 hours, offering a trauma-informed and therapeutic setting for acute mental health assessment and treatment, inclusive of their caretakers and support persons.

This approach ensures that individuals receive support tailored to their needs in a therapeutic environment, facilitated by both clinicians and peer workers with relevant lived experience, the government said.

Situated adjacent to the hospital's emergency department (ED), the new facility offers an alternative for individuals in mental health crises, aiming to ease the pressure on the ED.

Operating round-the-clock, the CSU is designed to address recommendations from an independent Health Service Investigation into the mental health adult inpatient unit at TPCH.  

It will be staffed by a new, full-time workforce of 60 multidisciplinary professionals, including nursing, medical, Indigenous mental health specialists, allied health experts, lived experience workers, administrative staff, security personnel, and operational support.

The new unit is a key component of the Queensland government’s A$1.94bn ‘Better Care Together Plan’, which seeks to enhance mental health, alcohol, and other drug services.

Fentiman said: “This state-of-the-art CSU will provide expert care and treatment for our community, thanks to our team of specialist clinical and support workers. 

“Mental health crisis touches the lives of families everywhere and this new facility will help meet the growing demand for mental health services on Brisbane’s northside.

“The new facility is in addition to our A$8m investment for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Centre announced earlier this year.”