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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-02-08 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Margaret Tobin Centre

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:26): I move:

That the 44th report of the committee, entitled 'Margaret Tobin Centre—psychiatric intensive care unit expansion', be noted.

The Department for Health and Wellbeing, or SA Health, proposes to deliver a new 12-bed psychiatric intensive care unit through a major extension of the Margaret Tobin Centre within the Flinders Medical Centre. The project forms part of the broader state and commonwealth governments' $400 million election commitment to upgrade and expand the Flinders Medical Centre and has a capital cost of $30 million. Early works commenced in January this year, with the main works anticipated to commence in May. Practical completion is expected in mid-2025.

Flinders Medical Centre forms part of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and is the largest hospital providing services to the southern metropolitan area. The extensive range of health services provided at Flinders Medical Centre encompasses mental health and psychiatric intensive care. The Margaret Tobin Centre is the principal acute mental health service in the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and was constructed in 2005.

The service currently has a 38-bed mental health inpatient facility, consisting of an eight-bed psychiatric intensive care unit and two acute care units that can admit a total of 30 mental health consumers. Admission to the facility can be facilitated in a planned manner by Community Mental Health Services, through an emergency department or via general medical pathways.

The project will increase the number of bays in the psychiatric intensive care unit from eight to 12, which will reduce pressure on service delivery, improve admitted mental health consumer outcomes and assist with patient flows from the emergency department. The addition of specialist acute mental health beds in southern Adelaide will provide improved access and deliver a new psychiatric intensive care unit aligned to contemporary mental health facility design principles. The project will provide enhanced consumer care outcomes through the delivery of a modern, homelike environment which is non-institutional for individuals presenting with acute mental health conditions and will enable the relocation of the unit's existing functions.

The extension of the psychiatric intensive care unit will be positioned across a suspended floor on the same level as the adjacent Margaret Tobin Centre bed stock. Construction will also incorporate a secured lower-level area for staff and mental health consumers. It was recommended to build the new ward positioned on one floor to promote greater operational efficiency with the existing Margaret Tobin Centre and simplify staff movements during night shifts. The 12-bed ward will consist of the following support areas:

three private family interview or meeting rooms, one sized larger to accommodate for extended family groups, reflective of a culturally inclusive environment for visiting families;

a purpose-assigned sensory room, providing a dedicated location for diversion therapies;

a de-escalation room and courtyard with adjoining ensuite for consumers experiencing severe acute mental health episodes;

a consumer dining room; and

an on-ward staffroom and office, store and utility area.

The secured lower level will provide support functions and will include a consumer interview room for consultation with consumers brought by vehicle prior to admission to the psychiatric intensive care unit; a consumer property hold for storage of a consumer's personal effects; and an open plan office for multidisciplinary clinical teams, an enclosed office and a staff area.

Sustainable development principles and environmental objectives were incorporated into the design and policies for this expansion. Importantly, a design work group has been tasked with ensuring these considerations are fully integrated, with an independent consultant appointed to support the sustainable aspirations of the project.

These sustainable principles are expected to provide a health facility with good environmental qualities, achieve a value for money solution and assist in improving user comfort and wellbeing whilst managing behaviours. The new facility will provide a positive workplace, reduce energy and water consumption, reduce the consumption of renewable and non-renewable energy resources and minimise recurring costs associated with maintaining the facility.

Risk assessments have identified potential risks related to the location, budget and the project program and time line. To mitigate these risks, a project control group has been established, comprising members of SA Health, the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. The committee will be responsible for providing day-to-day project management, reporting and controls functions.

After consultation with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Unit, SA Health confirms there are no native title implications over the site area and the Department for Environment and Water has confirmed there are no local heritage places on site.

SA Health assures the committee that engagement and consultation has occurred with various units and agencies within SA Health and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network. This has included undertaking specialised subject matter reviews, focusing on specific requirements of each unit and facility. Reviews and consultation will continue throughout the life cycle of the project with key stakeholders.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Margaret Tobin Centre psychiatric intensive care unit expansion. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Tim Packer, the Executive Director Infrastructure, Department for Health and Wellbeing; John Harrison, Director Building Projects, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; Michael Hegarty, Chief Executive and Principal Architect, Design Worldwide Partnership; and Dr Michael Nance, Clinical Director Mental Health Services, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.

I thank the witnesses for their time. Based upon the evidence considered, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Motion carried.

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