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Company News
— 02/24/2023 —
Australasia
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Northwest Healthcare Properties Management (“Northwest”), through its NZX-listed fund, Vital Healthcare Property Trust, is pleased to announce the completion of the ~$21 million development to increase the mental health services capacity at Belmont Private Hospital (“Belmont”) in Brisbane, operated by Aurora Healthcare Australia (“Aurora”).
The completion of the Belmont Private Hospital expansion marks a significant development in the treatment of mental health in Australia, and will make Belmont one of the largest private mental health hospitals in the country. This development is consistent with Northwest’s long-term commitment to increase critical mental healthcare infrastructure across the region, with the demand for mental health treatment growing exponentially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northwest is the largest healthcare real estate owner, manager and developer (for long term ownership) in Australia and New Zealand, and specialises in the development of market-leading healthcare precincts and facilities to deliver a range of critical health services to local communities. Aurora is the nation’s largest speciality private mental health provider with more than 1500 beds across 16 facilities. Together, the partnership between Northwest and Aurora provides the ideal combined expertise and capability for the provision of mental health treatment facilities such as Belmont Private Hospital.
Northwest Executive Director of Development, Chris Adams said: “We have a strong commitment to increasing Australians’ access to mental health care services and are pleased to announce the completion of this significant development at Belmont Private Hospital, in partnership with our operator, Aurora. We are particularly proud that this will make Belmont, the largest private mental health hospital in Queensland, one of the largest private mental health hospitals in Australia, making a meaningful contribution to addressing the demand for this type of healthcare.
“The provision of high-quality treatment facilities for mental health patients is increasingly critical, and mental health is a materially under-serviced sector of the Australian healthcare industry. Belmont Private Hospital has experienced consistent, significant demand for critical mental health services, and Northwest is pleased to partner with Aurora to help meet this demand by increasing Belmont’s capacity by around a third, as well as creating new opportunities for sub-speciality services.”
The Belmont expansion underpins Aurora’s strategic focus on delivering innovative, high quality and in-demand mental health services. The expansion sees Belmont open a dedicated 24-bed combined Perinatal and Women’s Unit and a 10-bed Young Adult and Adolescent Unit. These sub-specialities are in high demand in Brisbane, and the new dedicated units offer the region greater access to specialist mental health care.
The expansion also delivers a refurbished Trauma and Dissociation Unit and adds a further 12 beds to the Older Adult Mental Health Unit, to a combined total of 185 beds across Belmont Private Hospital. Along with increasing inpatient capacity in women’s mental health, young adult mental health, older persons’ mental health and complex trauma, the redevelopment also creates 14 additional specialist consulting suites, 10 new therapy group rooms and 70 new carpark spaces over three levels.
Aurora Healthcare Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Julia Strickland-Bellamy said: “We are delighted to see the completion of this exceptional upgrade to Belmont Private Hospital. The expansion will significantly boost mental health services, allowing more patients to benefit from access to life changing treatments and services. The Brisbane community deserves world-class healthcare and the completion of this expansion increases our ability to provide leading mental health treatment and support closer to home.
“We provide effective treatment in a safe and supportive environment. The extension of this 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.”
Australia-wide, Aurora has committed to significantly investing in expanded and innovative private mental health inpatient, day patient and outpatient services and facilities to meet unmet demand. The company is focused on broadening access to general and sub specialty mental health care which delivers on value, patient experience, community needs and clinical excellence.
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