Mental health units at Shellharbour and Shoalhaven hospitals have temporarily closed. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Temporary closures of key mental health units at Shellharbour and Nowra over the festive period due to the convergence of staffing pressures and major redevelopments has led NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to apologise, believing “we need to do better”.
Under the changes, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) has paused new admissions to the Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit at Shellharbour until early 2026 while it reviews staffing, safety and service demand across all sites.
ISLHD chief executive Margot Mains said young people aged 14 to 18 in crisis would continue to be admitted to Wollongong Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre, supported by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
Ms Mains said ISLHD had also activated referral pathways with four adolescent units in Sydney for cases requiring specialised inpatient care.
Shoalhaven Hospital will also close its 12-bed voluntary Sub-Acute Mental Health Unit to allow for major refurbishment tied to the hospital’s $440 million redevelopment.
“The redevelopment will increase the number of acute and sub-acute mental health beds from 12 to 32 in a staged rollout, including a new 12-bed acute care ward and a psychiatric emergency care centre,” she said.
“The enhanced acute mental health services are expected to begin operating at Shoalhaven Hospital in mid-2026.”
She said during construction, consumers who would normally access the voluntary sub-acute unit will instead be supported through the Community Mental Health Rehabilitation Service in Nowra, with staff redeployed to maintain service capacity.
Higher-risk patients or those requiring involuntary care will continue to be referred to Shellharbour Hospital — consistent with current practice.
“Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District remains committed to providing safe, high-quality mental health services, in the least restrictive way possible, for people of all ages,” she said.
“We work within a strongly connected network of inpatient and community services both locally and throughout NSW as the need arises.”
Mr Park said he shared community frustration and had been “taken by surprise” by the convergence of staffing pressures at Shellharbour and the Shoalhaven redevelopment.
“What is challenging is that these two things have converged together,” he said.
“I’m not happy about it.
“I apologise to the community … it should have been handled differently and better.”
Mr Park said he had been assured the Shellharbour adolescent unit would reopen on 27 January, and that the government had established weekly oversight meetings with the health secretary and mental health teams to monitor progress.
“I’ve made it clear to the CEO that this is very important to us, but more importantly than us, it’s very important to our community and patients,” he said.
“If we can get these things back online as quickly as possible, we will do so.
“It’s a challenge but I’ve also got to make sure that these units are properly and safely staffed for both patients, staff and the community.”
“That’s just a challenge at the moment in the health system, in particular in mental health services.”
He said NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson was working on recruiting additional staff.
“It’s a challenge across the world,” he said.
“Coming off the back of COVID, there’s been some challenges in terms of recruitment in our nursing workforce as well as our other healthcare workforce.
“We are doing what we can.”
Ms Mains said a range of services remained available for children, adolescents and adults in crisis, including Safe Haven, the Suicide Prevention Outreach Team, Safeguard Teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and Youth Mental Health Services.
She said if you or someone you know were in a life-threatening situation, call triple zero (000).
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.auMensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
