A safe escape from the frenzy of emergency departments will be available for Sydneysiders experiencing acute drug-induced disturbances from next year.
But regional areas will have to wait longer for the specialised hospital units after Labor failed to immediately match the former coalition government's commitment.
At a cost of more than $20 million, two short-stay, behavioural assessment units at Nepean and Prince of Wales hospitals will provide low-stimulus environments and treatment from a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians.
Similar models of care have resulted in improved patient outcomes, reduced need for sedation and restraint, as well as a reduction in the length of stay and time to be seen in emergency departments, the NSW government said.
It follows the success of a specialised unit at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, the first service of its kind in Australia to cater for the nearly one-in-seven presentations requiring specialised care for those affected by drugs or alcohol.
A wider rollout of spaces was also a recommendation of a royal commission-like inquiry into the drug ice, after which the coalition committed to building four units including at least two in regional NSW.
Health Minister Ryan Park said Labor wanted to get the first two up and running but it believed the units were the "way of the future".
"I can assure you, we will be rolling out others over the course of this term of parliament," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"We are going to be focused on the next tranche and that will include regional NSW."
As well as helping patients in acute distress, Mr Park envisaged the units would improve the welfare of staff and other patients in hospitals.
"Emergency departments are full of bright lights, big noises, lots of busy and lots of high activity," he said.
"That's not the ideal environment for people presenting under the influence of drugs and alcohol (and) can lead to an exacerbation of behaviours that can interrupt the care of others and put the safety of others at risk."
The two units will be co-located within the emergency departments and will require about 50 staff.
The new spaces would not come at the cost of standard beds, the government said.
