- Cook Government delivers permanent Medical Respite Centre
- Will help people experiencing homelessness recuperate after a hospital stay
- A key deliverable of the Sustainable Health Review
The Cook Government has today announced it has purchased a former aged care home in Carlisle as a permanent home for a Medical Respite Centre.
The centre will open late next week after refurbishment and retain its current name - Ellison House.
It will set a new benchmark for providing safe, on-site, post-acute medical care for people experiencing homelessness after a hospital presentation or admission.
Significantly, it will be able to accommodate patients who are wheelchair-bound and women who have experienced gender-based violence.
The new centre will also provide a 'window of opportunity' to link the patient with community and social supports in addition to relevant organisations, to help them out of homelessness.
Its opening represents WA's first medical respite centre to be housed within in a State-owned building - providing long-term security for the service which is tailored for the most vulnerable within the community.
The 20-bed service will be run by a consortium of non-government organisations - Homeless Healthcare, Ruah Community Services and Uniting WA - and managed by the East Metropolitan Health Service.
It follows a pilot program that was run out of leased premises in Northbridge, which confirmed the wide range of benefits to patients and the community, associated with operating a Medical Respite Centre.
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"This 24/7 Medical Respite Centre will provide a haven for people experiencing homelessness who need to recuperate from an acute medical condition after a hospital stay.
"People who suffer from chronic homelessness often have complex health needs and this facility will set a new benchmark for providing safe, on-site, post-acute medical care.
"Importantly, it will also link patients with range of funded support services while they are being cared for in a safe environment."
As stated by Homelessness Minister John Carey:
"The Cook Government is investing a record $3.2 billion in housing and homelessness measures, and in 2024 alone, we've announced nearly $140 million in homelessness measures, including $92.2 million in the current State Budget to ensure the continuation of more than 120 critical homelessness services across the State.
"This further investment will see WA's first medical respite centre find a long-term home and provide security for the service to support the most vulnerable members of our community.
"It's acknowledged that people sleeping rough may be at greater risk due to a range of factors which can be exacerbated by comorbidities that these individuals may have.
"This new centre has been developed using evidence-based research which finds that addressing health issues can play a significant part in helping people experiencing homelessness get their lives back on track."
