Kempsey mental health unit closure rumours quashed

A petition has been circulating online expressing concerns the unit was to close permanently.

Mid North Coast Health confirmed in November the 10-bed mental health unit in Kempsey had temporarily closed in a bid to re-direct resourcing to areas that required immediate COVID-related staffing.

The unit returned to normal operations mid-November.

Mid North Coast Local Health District chief executive Stewart Dowrick reassured the community there are no plans to close the facility.

"The unit is open 24 hours a day, is appropriately staffed, including with medical doctors, and is currently treating patients onsite," Mr Dowrick said.

"Services were temporarily paused to support short-term staffing of COVID-related services such as special health accommodation and the care of COVID-positive cases and their close contacts.

"During this time, people requiring inpatient mental health services were able to access this care at Port Macquarie's Mental Health Inpatient Unit."

Mr Dowrick said with the easing of the COVID-19 situation in the area, mental health inpatient services resumed, as planned, at Kempsey in mid-November.

The Kempsey Mental Health Unit provides a full range of inpatient services with additional community support services in place.

A Suicide Prevention Outreach Team has recently been established in the area to help people who are in distress, suicidal or at risk of self-harm.

Planning is also underway to undertake capital improvements at the inpatient unit.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District's mental health team also provides care and support to people from the Macleay Valley in a number of settings, including in their own homes.

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