A ROOM dedicated to helping Swan Hill District Health staff deal with aggressive patients has been installed at the hospital.
Increasing numbers of patients presenting to the emergency department with aggressive behaviour led to the development of the space to safely assess them.The behavioural assessment room (BAR) will be used for patients exhibiting behaviour dangerous to themselves or others, including those under the influence of drugs or alcohol or with a severe mental illness.
With no facilities at the hospital specifically intended for the management of patients with mental health issues, the BAR provides a safe, short-term option.
Patients will enter through the back of the hospital, with police and ambulance also able to access the room.
Previously, there was no safe space to control violent patients and the only option was to bring them in through the emergency department waiting room.
Swan Hill District Health chief executive officer Ted Rayment said, as the largest hospital in the region, Swan Hill was the first point of call.
The nearest mental health facility is in Bendigo.
“I think there is an increasing trend — not just in our ED, but across the country — of people who come to the ED who are aggressive…”
“It enables [a patient] to be there as a transition point, so they can be observed while decisions are made as to what the next step will be clinically,” he said.
“We have never had a behavioural assessment room at this place at all, but it provides… a safe staging point between the outside world and the interior world of the ED.
“I think there is an increasing trend — not just in our ED, but across the country — of people who come to the ED who are aggressive.”
Mr Rayment said he believed an increase in the use of methamphetamine, otherwise known as ice, had contributed to a rise in violent patients.
“I believe it is and there is no doubt that people who take ice for a period of time can develop psychosis and mental health issues so you have that dual drug and mental health issues that come together,” he said.
“Ice is an insidious scourge in our community.”
Swan Hill Police Senior Sergeant Kathy Zierk said the room would increase safety if violent offenders required hospital assessment.
“We need it fairly often, mainly for people with mental health issues and need somewhere safe where they can’t hurt themselves or other people,” Snr Sgt Zierk said.
“It makes it safer for us and the hospital staff.”
Developed in conjunction with mental health representatives, police, ambulance services and hospital staff, the room will soon become operational.
