A WESTERN NSW Local Health District (LHD) program offering an around-the-clock and 365-day-a-year telepsychiatry service to people needing emergency mental health care is in the running for a state award.
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The Mental Health Emergency Program-Rural Access Program (RAP) is a finalist in the Revitalising Regional NSW category of the 2013 Premier's Awards.
Dr Russell Roberts, the LHD's Director of Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services, said RAP assisted people from regional, rural and remote communities.
"People from these areas often have difficulty obtaining timely access to specialist services because of distance and the availability of on-the-ground services in more remote areas," he said.
"The program prevents people missing out on necessary treatment, or the need to be transported hundreds of kilometres away from home, which is a big disruption to patients and families".
Dr Roberts said RAP supported health and ambulance staff across 55 per cent of NSW in providing triage, assessment, management advice, and care coordination including admission, if needed.
"It means more people receive timely specialist mental health care, and in their local community, with fewer unnecessary transports and hospital admissions," he said.
Avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and receiving care as close to home as possible are priorities of the LHD's Strategic Health Services Plan.
"We are very excited that RAP has been recognised as a finalist in the Premier's Awards, as it highlights the important work our health district is doing for our remote and rural communities in providing the mental health services they need," Dr Roberts said.
The Premier's Awards will be announced at a ceremony at Sydney Town Hall on November 13.
