From a teenager girl, to an elderly man, and the mother of a recent patient of the Base Hospital’s Ward1A, their dim view of the situation paints a strikingly similar picture.

“It seems obvious mental health in the Hastings is as neglected now as it was 25 years ago,” said Hastings Mental Health Support Group founder Sheila Openshaw. “Some would say, it’s even worse”.

The Port News spoke with members of the Hastings Mental Health Support Group about the findings of the 2013-2021 Mental Health Clinical Services Plan.

The plan for the Mid North Coast Local Health District highlights a number of issues.

Among them is the state of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s inpatient ward which is deemed a clinical and corporate risk.

Mrs Openshaw said the report was reflective of a fundamental failure in the administration and support of the local mental health service.

She said this was also evident in the closure of the Ellimatta Group home and Karawa Cottage, and a failure to see similar services offered in their place. 

When it came to Ward1A, a sore point among many service users was the condition and location of the seclusion room, general aesthetic, and lack of beds in the hospital. “When you’re admitted to emergency you’re put in an empty room, with a mattress on the floor and a security guard outside,” a 53-year-old former patient of the hospital’s 12-bed inpatient unit said. 

“When you’re lying there you’re all alone, but you can hear the sirens as the ambulance goes out. 

“Sometimes, when your mind’s not right, it can be pretty tough in there.”

NSW Health is adamant, the seclusion room meets Australasian Health Facility Guidelines.

Hastings-Macleay Clinical Network Coordinator doctor Robert Pegram said the hospital’s new Emergency Department will have a similar room, built to the current design requirements.

But it will be located further from traffic.

“We understand concerns that people may have regarding the use of this room, however, this room is only used when necessary when concerns are held for the welfare of the patient,” Dr Pegram said.

Former patients said staff seemed to be struggling to cope under the pressure of a high-workload. 

One mother said she was asked to collect her son, a long-term patient of the ward, take him home for the night and bring him back the following day because his bed was desperately needed. 

Chairman of the Medical Staff Council doctor John Roberts said improving mental health was a high-priority for the hospital.

He said with the new $110 million upgrade around the corner, the contrast between the new state of the art facility and Ward1A would become even more apparent.

Hospital mental health risks 'dire'