Kempsey will be the first town in New South Wales to trial in-home mental health treatment, offering patients care at home instead of in a hospital.
The pilot program, called Hospital in the Home, will start early next year. It coincides with the closure of the mental health unit at Kempsey District Hospital.
Under this model, doctors and mental health staff will visit patients at home to provide treatment. The goal is to reduce stigma and allow people to receive care in a familiar environment, according to Sarah Fox, director of mental health services at the Mid North Coast Local Health District.
Patients currently using the Kempsey hospital unit, which can hold up to 10 voluntary inpatients, will be moved to at-home care or transferred to nearby hospitals once the trial begins.
The pilot will also include increased funding for community mental health services, including programs for First Nations people, who make up 12% of Kempsey’s population.
Involuntary patients will be sent to Port Macquarie Base Hospital, 55 km away, which will expand its mental health unit with more beds and resources. The local health district said it consulted with the community over the past year before making these changes.
Some local leaders have expressed concern about the closure of the Kempsey unit. Councillor Alexandra Wyatt highlighted its role in providing life-saving care and a safe place for patients to rest and recover. She warned that home-based care could carry risks for some people.
NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said the hospital unit could reopen if the trial is not successful. She also noted that if the program proves effective, it could be expanded across the state.
Programs like Hospital in the Home have been used in Victoria and Tasmania with positive results. Psychiatrist Dr Patrick McGorry, who runs a home-based mental health clinic in Melbourne, said the approach is effective but stressed that inpatient beds remain essential. He warned that new services should be fully funded and operating before closing hospital beds.
The trial in Kempsey will test whether home-based care can safely replace some inpatient services, potentially reshaping how mental health care is delivered in New South Wales.
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