Mental health unit for hospital

Brisbane Waters Private Hospital at Woy Woy has begun construction of its new mental health unit, The Central Coast Clinic.

The clinic will be the first private mental health facility on the Central Coast.

Acting general manager Ms Annette Czerkesow said the owner of Brisbane Waters Private Hospital, Healthscope, has invested "in excess of $1 million" for the new mental health unit which is expected to be completed by mid-October.

"Healthscope decided to construct a mental health unit at Brisbane Waters Private Hospital because there is no other private mental health facility on the Central Coast," Ms Czerkesow said.

"The closest private mental health facilities for the Central Coast community at present are the Northside Clinic in Sydney or the Lakeside Clinic in Warners Bay.

"The hospital has an established reputation for providing quality care, and the services planned for the new mental health unit will further enhance this reputation."

Ms Czerkesow said the private hospital would continue to provide its existing wide range of services to the Central Coast community.

"What we are aiming to achieve is to provide a hospital service that looks after the patient holistically, that is, looking after their mind as well as their body," Ms Czerkesow said.

"The rest of our services will continue at the same high standard, with the mental health facility making it possible for us to offer more, so it is business as usual plus an extra service."

Brisbane Waters Private Hospital will continue to provide the community with its day procedure unit, an on-site pathology laboratory, an x-ray facility, an operating theatre, an angiography suite, a 24 Hour emergency chest pain service, physiotherapy and medical and surgical services.

The new mental health facility will have eight private rooms and four twin-share rooms available, making a total of 16 beds.

"The Central Coast Clinic will be a modern facility with consulting rooms, break-out facilities and common areas with private and twin-share rooms available," Ms Czerkesow said.

"We want the local residents to see the new facility as a benefit to their community.

"In the past, we were not able to provide the necessary care and support to our patients experiencing mental health issues.

"Now we will be the first private clinic on the Central Coast to be able to do so."

Press Release, 28 Jul 2008 Annette Czerkesow, Brisbane Waters Private Hospital