The future of inpatient mental health care in Tamworth and the Northwest has been unveiled with the official opening of the brand-new $56m Tamworth Mental Health Unit.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the unit includes 25 general adult beds including a high-acuity zone, an eight bed older persons area, and four adolescent inpatient beds providing specialist services to young people.

“The opening of the new Tamworth Mental Health Unit marks is the final capstone on a long campaign to improve mental health services in our region,” Mr Anderson said.

“The Tamworth Mental Health Carers Support Network led by Don and Di Wyatt have campaigned for this upgrade for almost a decade with their lived experience as carers critical to the development of this new unit.

“Funded and planned under to Coalition Government, this is a 37-bed facility that will be one of the best in regional Australia, delivering modern, compassionate mental health care for people from Tamworth and the entire New England Northwest.  

“The facility delivers improved patient safety, better therapeutic spaces, greater dignity an privacy, access to modern treatments, support for families and carers and better links with the rest of the hospital.

“Local artwork also adorns the walls and local native plants throughout the gardens give a real local touch. 

“I want to thank the Tamworth Mental Health Carers Support Group and Hunter New England Health for their continued support of this project. Without the tireless work of local advocates, the dream of building this new unit would not have been possible.”