The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub

The hub is located in The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s existing emergency department.

The project has delivered:

• a six-bed mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub
• six behavioural assessment cubicles
• a patient lounge and common area that offers a space for relaxation and refreshments
• a staff base and work utility rooms with medical equipment and treatment facilities
• flexible spaces such as consulting rooms that can be used for private spaces for patient and families.

Implementation of the hub is subject to a delivery model being finalised.

The five other emergency department hubs will be located at:

• Barwon Health’s University Hospital Geelong
• Monash Health’s Monash Medical Centre
• Peninsula Health’s Frankston Hospital
• St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
• Western Health’s Sunshine Hospital.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub project aims to achieve the following benefits:

Urgent mental healthcare where and when it’s needed

The new hub will support the growing number of people with mental health, drug and alcohol problems seeking help in emergency departments to get the help they need, sooner.

Specialised care and support

Patients will be assessed and treated by an emergency department team – made up of psychiatrists, nurses and social workers – and referred to other services as required.

Contemporary mental healthcare

The project will deliver emergency facilities that support safe and modern emergency care. This will provide more support for Victorians living in the metropolitan Melbourne region who are presenting at emergency departments and needing dedicated clinical care.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Consultants for The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub are:

• Johnstaff Projects (project manager)
• Silver Thomas Hanley (architects)
• DCWC (quantity surveyors)
• Steve Watson & Partners (building surveyors)
• Norman Disney & Young (engineering services).