$8 million mental health development
at The Southport Private Hospital
Construction has just begun on a new $8 million mental health ward at Southport Private Hospital to
cater for a growing demand for services on the Gold Coast.
The Ramsay Way 2019 | 03 13
MENTAL HEALTH NEWS
The adult mental health development includes 12 new
beds, along with two new group rooms, a new occupational
therapy room with ADL kitchen for rehabilitation and a new
dining room.
Berkeley Vale Private Hospital CEO Lorrie Mohsen said:
“Rehabilitation at Berkeley Vale Private Hospital is strong
with skilled and experienced staff and with the extended
services in mental health we will continue to deliver and
invest in these much-needed programs.”
The hospital offers comprehensive inpatient care for
people with a range of mental health disorders including
anxiety, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorders and
personality disorders.
It also offers an outpatient program and is experienced in the
use of electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial
magnetic stimulation.
Ramsay’s Operations Executive Manager of the Eastern
Region Malcolm Passmore said: “What we can offer private
mental health is a program that encompasses not only
psychiatry, but also access to psychologists and an extensive
allied health team.”
Half of all Australian adults will experience mental ill health at
least once in their life; the extra services will help service the
increasing demand for services on the Central Coast.
The number of available beds for patients who are
admitted to the facility will double from 24 to 48.
The Southport Private Hospital’s Executive Officer, Athol
Webb, said: “Since Southport Private Hospital was opened
in June 2017 we have seen continued growth in demand
for the mental health care and rehabilitation services.
So, we are very excited about this extra capacity which
will allow us to continue to provide care for all those who
need specialist intervention and assistance.”
As a result of the expansion, The Southport Private
Hospital will be able to provide specialised care for
patients with eating disorders, addiction, post-natal
depression and anxiety disorders – in addition to the
general mental health treatment it currently offers.
“The additional beds and therapy areas will enhance
our current services to meet increasing demand and
contemporary, evidence based practice. What we’re
offering is more choice and a great standard of care
for our patients,” Mr Webb said.
Additional psychiatrists will join the team at The Southport
Private Hospital to help with the roll-out of the targeted
treatments.
New developmental trauma
program at Albert Road Clinic
Albert Road Clinic has introduced a new dedicated inpatient
treatment program to help people with a history of trauma.
The developmental trauma program aims to assist people to gain awareness
and understanding of how they have been impacted by traumatic events,
develop skills and tools to maintain healthy relationships, and reduce
unhelpful behaviours and adopt more helpful means of coping.
The program is also designed to provide patients with tools and skills to
reduce symptoms and associated distress, reclaim their sense of identity
and ability to live in accordance with their values, and develop self-efficacy
and a sense of personal empowerment.
Director of Psychiatric Services at The Southport Private
Hospital, Dr Lee Williams of Ascent Psychiatry, said: “It’s
incredibly important that we have the right skill set when
we offer these services.”
The redevelopment will also include space for group therapy,
art and music therapy, a gym and a sensory modulation area,
which is a space where the environment can be controlled to
reduce levels of distress.
“It will have low level lighting, strategic sight, sounds,
smells, movement and items such as weighted blankets and
massage chairs to complement existing therapies and further
reduce stress and anxiety,” Mr Webb said.
Director of Community Psychiatric Services and the Day
Programs Dr Philip Muller, also of Ascent Psychiatry, said,
“This expansion marks a significant milestone for private
mental health services on the Gold Coast and will serve
as the counterpart to Ramsay Health Care’s growing
commitment to community psychiatry.”
It is expected the works will be completed by February 2020.
“We look forward to the expansion, and the ability to
offer additional, much-needed services to our patients,”
Dr Williams said.
Mental health expansion
opens at Berkeley Vale
Mental health bed numbers at Berkeley Vale
Private Hospital have more than doubled,
following an expansion to the facility.