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The Ramsay Way - 03 - 2016

The Ramsay Way 2016 | 03 5 DEVELOPMENT NEWS Architect’s impression of the new Northside Clinic to be opened in a new location in 2018. Figtree Launches Rehabilitation Service Illawarra residents are assured of exceptional and broad ranging access to new rehabilitation facilities following the relaunch of Figtree Private Hospital, the former surgical and maternity hospital, as a 68 bed rehabilitation, medical and sleep study facility offering inpatient services in August 2016. Northside Clinic has successfully operated from Greenwich Road in St Leonards for over 40 years but has outgrown its current site with increasing demand for quality mental health services. The new multistorey Northside Clinic will have increased beds, services and consulting suites and will be a purpose-built facility catering for patients with a range of mental health issues. The Clinic will also include large outdoor therapy spaces, wellness areas, massage rooms, and a gymnasium. Clinic CEO, Anne Mortimer, said the expansion would ensure quality mental health services were more accessible to people with a mental illness. “All over Australia, we are experiencing a growing demand for mental health services. Northside Clinic, which has been a premier mental health clinic in Sydney for over 40 years, is now treating over 10,000 patients each year and waiting lists for many of our services are growing,” Ms Mortimer said. She said the Clinic provided a number of critical and unique mental health services for the community which Were not otherwise readily available for people suffering with certain conditions. “Northside Clinic is the largest provider of inpatient and day patient treatment for people with eating disorders or drug and alcohol dependency in Sydney. With waiting lists for these services growing significantly, it is vital that we expand to support those in need.” The Clinic, a teaching hospital of the University of Sydney, currently offers a number of specialised treatment units including for mood disorders, drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation, eating disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as a comprehensive range of day programs. These services will be expanded in the new location. Northside Clinic is part of The Northside Group which is Sydney’s largest and most established private psychiatric hospital group with four hospitals and over 233 beds servicing regions from the lower North Shore to Sydney’s South and North West. Subject to development approvals, construction of the new Clinic is set to commence later in 2016 with completion scheduled for early 2018. Northside Clinic Moves to New Location Ramsay Health Care has announced that Northside Clinic, opened by Paul Ramsay in 1973 and one of Sydney’s premier mental health facilities, will move to a new location in 2018. The renovation follows the opening of Wollongong Private Hospital and, in conjunction with Lawrence Hargrave Private Hospital in the northern Illawarra, will give people greater choice and opportunity in accessing the right services for their condition. Figtree Private Hospital CEO, Paul McKenna, said: “Figtree Private Hospital has undergone a major facelift that includes the opening of two new wards, the addition of two physiotherapy gymnasiums, two Activities of Daily Living kitchens, an occupational therapy treatment room, and the conversion of birthing suites into four integrated sleep study rooms.” “The decision to turn Figtree Private Hospital into a rehabilitation centre was carefully considered and ultimately based on what we saw as an incredible need for the Illawarra region,” he said. “When people think of rehabilitation they often consider only sporting injuries or motor vehicle accidents, but rehabilitation is invaluable for people living with conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis for example.” “Ramsay Health Care has been involved with rehabilitation services in the region through Lawrence Hargrave Private Hospital since 2001 and understands how great the need is for these services. Dedicating Figtree Private Hospital to rehabilitation means better opportunities for people in Wollongong’s central and southern suburbs to get the expert help they need quickly and effectively.” Along with medical care and sleep study services, inpatient facilities at the hospital now include rehabilitation programs for patients with orthopaedic and musculoskeletal, neurological, reconditioning and post-surgery issues, as well as pain management services. There is also a range of allied health therapies available as part of the rehabilitation programs. The change has also proven pivotal for the region in other ways. 60 additional jobs have been created at Figtree Private Hospital and there are plans to recruit a further 100 people during the next 18 months. Ten new specialists are also caring for patients at the hospital. Mr McKenna said the changes at the hospital were just the beginning for the facility, which would continue to grow its services to best cater for the needs of the region. “Our future plans include the addition of day and outpatient rehabilitation programs, more gymnasiums and a hydrotherapy pool to ensure patients can access everything they need in the one area. Rehabilitation is about improving quality of life across a range of needs and being able to do that in one place is invaluable for patients.” Ramsay Health Care Executives at the opening of the new rehabilitation service: Ramsay Managing Director Chris Rex; Operations Executive NSW Region Malcolm Passmore; National Business Development Manager Alex Belcastro; Chief Operating Officer Kate Munnings; Hospital CEO Paul McKenna and Ramsay Australia CEO Danny Sims. Hospital CEO Paul McKenna, Ramsay Managing Director Chris Rex and Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery. Newly refurbished accommodation at Figtree Private. Rehabilitation gymnasium.


The Ramsay Way - 03 - 2016
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