Parent Infant Unit (PIU)

How to refer your patient

Mental Health Regional Triage Service 1300 363 788.

It provides 24-hour access to mental health services across the region and is the single point of initial contact.

Referring persons are asked to provide the following information:

Any recent presentation/concerns and any new findings and recent medical investigations (Pathology, neurological testing/reports, Histology and Medical Imaging).

A list of current medications (if prescribed), relevant patient history, relevant family history, any other information pertinent and that may assist in decision making with patient, family/carer about their care and treatment.

Clinical service overview

Inpatient admissions are open to antenatal women in their third trimester of pregnancy and primary caregivers (mum, dad or carer) of infants up to the age of 12 months (unless walking) in the following circumstances: There is an existing diagnosis, or risk, of a serious mental illness with risk issues which may include the involvement of child protection, the needs and safety of caregivers and infants can be managed appropriately and safely in an open ward environment.

Patients can be voluntary or compulsory under the Mental Health Act 2014 if there is low risk to the infant. If on assessment the primary caregiver is considered to be a danger to: The infant, someone else’s infant, themselves and is unable to be managed within an open ward admission to PIU will not be considered. Primary caregivers with risks such as outlined may need to be assessed within the Acute Adult Unit (AAU) until stabilized before consideration for a Parent Infant Unit admission with an infant.

Admission to PIU may not be considered also in the following circumstances: If on review post admission the primary caregivers condition deteriorates and they are unable to be managed within the Parent Infant Unit environment, being with the infant contributes to the deterioration of the primary caregivers mental state, there is no improvement in the primary caregivers mental state after a pre-determined number of days and they are unable to care for the infant.

Priority of access to the Parent Infant Unit will be determined based on clinical need and potential risk to the primary caregiver and infant, or risk of separation that may be avoided through an admission. Admission will occur following a referral and a subsequent comprehensive mental health assessment by Parent Infant Unit clinical staff to assess need and eligibility.