This document is a summarised version of Emergency Department DG-CC4, Provision of Mental Health Care in Western Health Footscray and Sunshine Emergency Departments. The summary has been created to be Emergency Department specific, and has been endorsed by the ED Leadership Team. Staff should review the full document if they require further information. Alternatively, additional information contained within this PPG has been summarised in the QRG: Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Care In Emergency Departments.
This guideline details the specialised services that support effective and safe mental health patient care across Footscray Hospital and Sunshine Hospital Emergency Departments.
This QRG is applicable to all staff working in SHED.
It is the responsibility of the Nurse Unit Managers and Directors of the Emergency Departments of each site to ensure the relevant staff are familiar with this QRG and associated PPGs.
These services are provided under the clinical governance and direction of WH’s partner mental health services in close working relationship with WH ED leadership.
Services supporting mental health care in Footscray Hospital and Sunshine Hospital Emergency Departments include:
Please refer to Supporting Documents for more information:
Referrals to EMH/ECATT can be made face-to-face or by phone.
When considering referrals, note that patients with mental health care needs should be assessed for co-existing substance use.
Consider a referral to the Addiction Medicine Consultation and Liaison Service or to the Emergency Department AOD workers
Similarly, all patients should be assessed for Nicotine Withdrawal and referral to ED AOD Services
Please refer to Supporting Documents for more information on referrals to ED AOD Services:
All contacts with patients with mental health needs by all clinicians are to be recorded in EDIS. In addition, nurses record contacts on the nursing bedside chart.
EMH/ECATT clinicians will complete comprehensive mental health assessment, risk assessment, ISBAR and other clinical assessments and documents in accordance with mental health service requirements.
Mental Health documentation will be in accordance with the Mental Health Act 2014 (VIC).
| Title: | Services Supporting Mental Health Care in Emergency Departments | |
| Version: | 2.0 | |
| Date Published: | May 2022 | |
| Date of scheduled review: | May 2023 | |
| Author: | Approver: | |
| ED Leadership Team | ED Leadership Team | |
