A regional New South Wales public hospital is closing its mental health inpatient facility to launch a “hospital in the home” program. This new model provides acute mental health care at patients’ residences, aiming to allow people with acute mental illness to live well in the community while receiving hospital-level treatment.
Voluntary patients at Kempsey District Hospital will transition to this program or nearby hospitals, while involuntary patients will be transferred to a hospital 55 kilometers away. The NSW government may expand this program statewide if successful.
Hospital in the home involves multidisciplinary teams—including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and peer workers—who develop customized treatment plans and provide care through daily home visits or clinic and online appointments. The approach emphasizes early discharge planning and aims to restore patients’ functioning within their community.
Evidence shows this model reduces hospital stays, cuts readmission rates, lowers the risk of adverse events like seclusion and restraint, and is often preferred by patients compared to hospital stays. However, it may not suit individuals at very high risk of suicide.
Australia’s mental health system remains hospital-centric, with nearly 80% of state mental health spending focused on hospital care, despite mental health accounting for around 15% of the national disease burden.
Community-based funding lags at about 7%, much lower than countries like New Zealand, which dedicates over 20% to community services, including alternative programs such as consumer-run acute psychiatric wards. Experts recommend expanding hospital in the home and other community models to relieve acute pressure on hospitals and improve care delivery.
Financial pressures and increasing demand have driven health services like St Vincent’s Health Australia to pivot toward home-based and online care, aiming to dedicate hospital resources to emergencies and intensive care.
Future national health funding agreements are expected to prioritize hospital alternatives like hospital in the home, but adequate funding and adherence to the model’s philosophy are critical to avoid subpar care in either hospital or home settings.
Related topics
Zuranolone Emerges as First Oral Therapy for Postpartum Depression
Severe Mental Illness May Lead to Earlier Diabetes Medications, Study Finds
Experts Highlight Growing Demand and Effectiveness of OCD Therapy Today
