The state’s Mental Health Commission is visiting Orange and check up on reforms to improve services.
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Deputy commissioner Karen Burns said the visit was one of four each year to understand how the changes to mental health services had been received by patients and service providers.
As well as talking to health services, Ms Burns said the commissioners would hear from patients with lived experiences in at booked out event at the Orange Ex-Services’ Club.
She said hearing from patients with experience allowed future improvements to be delivered.
“Services are now mature enough to support patients to have a voice about what works and what the challenges are,” Ms Burns said.
Western NSW Local Health District’s mental health, drug and alcohol director Jason Crisp said since the commission’s strategic plan service delivery had changed from what could done for patients, to what could done with patients.
Mr Crisp said services were delivered “holistically”, with the health department and non-government providers.
“We’re working with other service providers, we’re not just coming up with ideas by ourselves,” he said.
Mr Crisp said the commissions role was advocacy and “making sure we work together and not slipping into practises that aren’t best practise.”