- Cook Government signs lease for former Bethesda Mental Health Clinic building
- Will deliver more public mental health beds in the southern suburbs
- Purpose-built Cockburn facility to be run by South Metropolitan Health Service
- Part of Government's commitment to expanding access to mental health care
The Cook Government has entered into a three-year agreement to lease the Mental Health Clinic previously operated by Bethesda, delivering a boost to public mental health services in the southern suburbs.
South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) will operate the state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility in Cockburn, with services to progressively commence at the clinic in the coming weeks.
Under SMHS's management, initial planned services will include two floors dedicated to a women's mental health facility, with a particular focus on eating disorder services, and mixed-gender Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) and addiction withdrawal services.
It's expected a number of the clinic's existing outpatient psychiatric services will continue to be provided, including models of care tailored to veterans and first responders.
As well as 75-beds, the clinic features a mental health wellness and recovery centre to provide outpatient therapies and specialist consulting suites.
Earlier this year, Bethesda announced it would cease operating its private mental health clinic on 23 February 2024.
SMHS has recruited staff from the Bethesda clinic to roles with the public health service.
Improving access to mental health care, both acute and community services, is a key priority of the Cook Government.
Public mental health services in the southern metropolitan region continue to be provided at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Fremantle Hospital and Rockingham General Hospital.
Construction is also underway on 40 additional mental health beds at Fremantle Hospital as part of a $63 million redevelopment.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My Government is committed to boosting access to mental health services and this clinic in Cockburn will be an important asset to our public health system.
"Importantly, initial service offerings will include two floors dedicated to women only, with a focus on providing eating disorder treatment services.
"Veterans and first responders will also continue to be looked after at the clinic and all staff who were working for the previous operator have been invited to join SMHS."
As stated by Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"Improving access to every kind of mental health service is a key priority for the Cook Government and this lease will provide an immediate uplift to public mental health beds.
"The Cockburn Clinic is a state-of-the-art purpose-built facility that, under this agreement, will continue to benefit Western Australian patients in the southern suburbs and across the broader metropolitan area.
"All existing staff have been given the opportunity to take up roles with SMHS to work at the clinic or other important public health care facilities."
As stated by Cockburn MLA David Scaife:
"I have visited this clinic and seen first-hand the fantastic facilities that it offers patients.
"This 75-bed facility is an important asset to Cockburn and this lease will ensure it will continue to operate, under a new model, for the benefit of our community.
"Access to appropriate mental health care is so important and I am proud to be part of a Government that is committed to boosting services in our area."
