A review of mental health and drug and alcohol services across the Western NSW Local Health District has found that the way that some mental health services currently operate is at odds with contemporary ways to care for people.
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As part of a recent review of mental health and drug and alcohol services across the region, Western NSW Local Health District director of operations, Lindsey Gough said the changes were made to improve outcomes for mental health patients and to use existing resources most efficiently.
"Currently the LHD has a large number of their mental health clients cared for in hospital as inpatients," Ms Gough said.
"National and international evidence shows that some of these clients can have their care provided in the community closer to their place of residence. The evidence also shows that when the care is provided in the community setting clients have better outcomes."
Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said the review has found that the way that some mental health services in the LHD currently operate is at odds with contemporary ways to care for people with mental illness.
"This reflects what we were expecting and one of the reasons the review was undertaken," he said.
"We want to ensure we are delivering contemporary models for mental health drug and alcohol services which involve delivery of care as close to home as possible, in a least restrictive environment".
