A new 48-bed purpose-built facility for the provision of rehabilitation and aged care services and older persons mental health inpatient services has been opened at Calvary Hospital.
The ACT Government has contributed over $10 million a year in ongoing funding for the operation of the facility which is designed to meet the needs of older citizens in Canberra and the wider region.
20 of the beds comprise the older persons' mental health unit and will provide care for elderly patients with acute mental illness and challenging behaviour. The unit is the first of its type in the ACT and is an important part of the Government's mental health strategy.
The remaining 28 beds will be used for sub-acute care and the rehabilitation of patients when they leave acute care or when they come from the community.
The new facility will complement the existing 12 geriatric evaluation and management beds already in operation at Calvary.
After inspecting the new facility known as the Keaney Building and named in honour of the work of the late Dr Jim Keaney and Dr Margaret Keaney, Mary Porter said, "The project managers and the staff responsible are to be highly commended for their achievements.
"As a former nursing sister I understand just how important it is to provide the appropriate environment when caring for people and the Keaney Building is an outstanding example a state of the art facility that has been developed in consultation with health consumers" Mary Porter continued.
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