Perth, Australia: Northwest Healthcare Properties Management (“Northwest”), through its NZX-listed fund, Vital Healthcare Property Trust, is pleased to announce a ~$20 million development at Abbotsford Private Hospital in Perth (“Abbotsford” or “the Hospital”), operated by Aurora Healthcare Australia (“Aurora”), with new mental health beds now open to patients.
Located in the inner west Perth region, the five-storey extension to the Hospital will add 47 new inpatient beds, new group therapy rooms, administration facilities and additional car parking.
The first of these new beds are now open to patients. This development takes the total number of mental health beds at Abbotsford Private to 77, more than doubling the Hospital’s patient capacity, and increases Northwest’s Australian portfolio to over 1,000 hospital beds, following the expansion of Belmont Private Hospital earlier this year. The remainder of new beds at Abbotsford Private are expected to open in September.
Abbotsford Private Hospital is a leading private mental health hospital in Western Australia renowned for its dedicated inpatient and day patient treatment of addiction, trauma, mood disorders and dual diagnosis presentations. This expansion extends service access to adolescents, with beds now available to individuals aged 16 and over, and increases the breadth of service offerings, including the introduction of an onsite rTMS Clinic.
The Hospital development and expansion was driven by the need to address the significant growing demand for mental health treatment in Perth, with the demand for the Hospital’s services having previously exceeded its capacity.
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 1,000 mental health beds and 500 rehabilitation/medical beds across 16 hospitals. Together, the partnership between Northwest and Aurora provides the ideal combined expertise and capability for the provision of mental health treatment facilities such as Abbotsford 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 Abbotsford Private alongside our partner, Aurora. In the first half of 2023, we are proud to have undertaken both the Abbotsford and Belmont Private Hospitals expansions as a significant advancement in the treatment of mental health in Australia, consistent with our long-term commitment to facilitate the necessary expansion of critical healthcare infrastructure across the nation.
“The provision of high-quality treatment facilities for mental health patients is increasingly critical. 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.”
Aurora Chief Executive Officer Australia, Ms. Julia Strickland-Bellamy said: “We are delighted to see this exceptional upgrade to Abbotsford Private Hospital. This expansion will significantly boost health services, allowing more patients to benefit from access to life changing treatments and services. 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.”
“At Abbotsford Private Hospital we provide effective treatment in a safe, supportive environment. 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.”
Australia-wide, Aurora has committed to significantly investing in expanding private mental health inpatient, day patient and outpatient services and facilities to meet unmet health service demand.
