The Mental Health High Dependency Unit at PA Hospital has been transformed in a major renovation, giving patients a calming and comforting space to receive care during a difficult time in their lives.
The upgrades include new beds, floors, lighting, paint, wallpaper, and fixtures, with the addition of TVs, desks, wardrobes, and chairs in all seven rooms.
It makes an incredible difference to the look and feel of the area, which makes Nurse Unit Manager Lyndal Wallace very excited.
“The space before was very clinical and impersonal because it was essentially just painted white,” she said.
“Now the space has a whole lot of warmth. We absolutely love the blue wallpaper, the timber, and the whole change in environment.
“We’re feeling very positive it’s going to make a big difference for the patients we care for.”
But the upgrades were about so much more than a change in colour palette.
Throughout the design process there was a focus on making positive changes that empower patients and give them a level of independence, while ensuring safety remains a top priority.
Having the TV remotes secured to the walls and custom light switches allows patients to be in control of their surroundings, which hasn’t always been possible in acute environments.
For Lyndal and her team, the refurbishment reflects their passion for high-quality care.
“I’ve worked in mental health for 35 years. The support from the leadership team to do something like this is incredible,” she said.
“It’s just about treating people like human beings.
“The people who we see coming here have a severe mental illness and they might not have a lot of support, so this will be really nice for them.”