This week the Mental Health Division welcomes Rebecca Beaumont and Anthony Rathbone to the newly launched Mental Health Outlier Program (MHOP).

Mental Health consumers in general inpatient beds can pose significant challenges for the multidisciplinary team caring for them. The MHOP nursing role compliments the care provided by other health care professionals in a general inpatient ward.

Working out of Northern Hospital Epping, Rebecca and Anthony will undertake clinical assessments, engage with consumers and their families, assist with the implementation of the clinical treatment plans and build capability and confidence in the multidisciplinary team.

Rebecca commenced her Mental Health Nursing journey 24 years ago as a Graduate Nurse at Northern Health. Since then, she has worked for public mental health services in varying roles including Inpatient, Mental Health Phone Triage, Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams, Emergency Mental Health, PACER and Case Management.

She says, “I am passionate about ensuring our consumers and patients receive quality holistic care during their journey and are repatriated from general hospital wards to mental health inpatient units for specialised treatment in a timely manner.”

Anthony has been working in healthcare since 2005. He started his career in the acute medical setting but found himself more interested in the field of mental health. He has been working in the position of Senior Clinician, Mental Health Intensive Care Area Response (MHICAR) since March 2022.

Anthony says, “I am an ardent supporter for any endeavour that will help optimise our process and streamline our service – thus resulting in reduced length of stay, and improved engagement with our consumers, their families and key stakeholders.”

“I am delighted to launch this new program and welcome Rebecca and Anthony to their new roles,” says Belinda Scott, Executive Director, Mental Health.

“They will help us provide high quality care for mental health consumers waiting access to a specialist mental health bed.”

Featured image shows from left to right Rebecca Beaumont and Anthony Rathbone.