New mental health hospital for the ACT

Source: http://phnews.org.au/

19/07/23

Canberra’s newest private psychiatric hospital adds 52 beds providing overnight care to the city's residents and people in the surrounding region.

Deakin Private Hospital, which held its official opening in July, also includes 12 beds for adolescents and young adults aged 16 years and over in a dedicated unit that includes a brightly-painted basketball court and relaxation areas.

The $27 million development is the first of three facilities to be operated by iMH – a joint venture between Aurora Healthcare Australia and Medibank.

“We recognise that recovery is a journey and people have different needs at different stages,” iMH CEO Joanne Levin said.

“The model of care at Deakin Private Hospital has been developed to deliver care attuned to the evolving needs of patients in a setting that best supports their recovery.

“By providing access to an alternative model of care, Deakin Private Hospital gives doctors and patients the power to choose the right treatment at the right time to meet patient treatment goals.”

The facility will provide care in an integrated setting – leveraging both hospital and community services – as it aims to reduce readmission and give patients more choice, value and control.

Its model will focus on continuity of care through diverse pathways that accommodate inpatient, day attendance, in-home and community-based treatment, providing critical services for the Australian Capital Territory community and surrounding regions including Goulburn and Yass.

One of the first patients to visit the new hospital was Christopher Payne, a 38-year-old from the Riverina Region who said his stay had completely changed his perception of psychiatric facilities. 

“It was my first visit to a mental health hospital, and I was very worried and uncomfortable about going, but the staff were really welcoming," he said.

"The team was incredibly supportive and helpful 24 hours a day and that made it so much easier to be there.

“After discharge, there are outpatient programs I can attend, but my circumstances prevent me from going in-person, so I’ve been able to connect with my care team over the phone to continue my treatment.”

Aurora’s Hirondelle Private Hospital in Chatswood on Sydney’s North Shore will be converted to an iMH mental health facility in late 2024, while the group plans to build from scratch at another site in the inner southern suburb of Alexandria with a scheduled opening in 2025.

“We are extremely proud to be providing alternative models for care in mental health,” added Ms Levin, who was previously Aurora's Chief Clinical Governance Officer. 

“It will also support the long-term sustainability of the system in the face of rising demand.”