$20m boost for mental health services

Abbotsford Private Hospital has opened the first stage of a $20 million development project which aims to meet Western Australia's rising demand for mental health services.

The Perth facility's five-storey extension will add 47 new inpatient beds – more than doubling its total to 77 – along with new group therapy rooms, administration facilities and additional car parking.

The first of these new beds were made available to patients in early July, and the rest are due to be opened in September.

The expansion of Abbotsford Private Hospital, which had exceeded its capacity for services, is a joint partnership between Australasia's largest healthcare real estate company, Northwest Properties, and Aurora Healthcare Australia.

"This expansion will significantly boost health services, allowing more patients to benefit from access to life-changing treatments and services," Aurora Australia CEO Julia Strickland-Bellamy said.

"The Perth community deserves world-class mental health care, and the completion of the Abbotsford Private expansion enhances our ability to provide leading mental health treatment and support closer to home."

Abbotsford, one of 16 private hospitals and community services operated nationwide by Aurora, specialises in dedicated inpatient and day patient treatment of addiction, trauma, mood disorders and dual diagnosis presentations.

The expansion extends service access to adolescents, with beds now available to individuals aged 16 and over, and increases the range of services offered, including the introduction of an onsite rTMS Clinic providingRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – a drug-free, non-invasive treatment for depression.

"We provide effective treatment in a safe, supportive environment," Ms Strickland-Bellamy added.

"The extension of our facility has been designed to deliver care in the least restrictive manner, allowing patients to feel relaxed and comfortable in an environment that fosters recovery.

"It is a magnificent environment that achieves a feeling of peace and comfort and sets the standard for private mental health hospitals going forward."

Abbotsford is the second development project in the first half of 2023 by Aurora and Northwest, which now has over 1,000 hospital beds in its Australian portfolio following the earlier expansion of Brisbane's Belmont Private Hospital.

"The provision of high-quality treatment facilities for mental health patients is increasingly critical," said Northwest's Executive Director of Development, Chris Adams.

"Abbotsford Private has experienced significant demand for the critical mental health services it provides, and Northwest is pleased to continue working with Aurora to help meet this demand by more than doubling the capacity of this important facility and creating new opportunities for sub-speciality services including the introduction of an adolescent day program."

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