Hospital clinic is officially opened

Brisbane Waters Private Hospital has officially opened the Central Coast's first private mental health facility in conjunction with its 30th Anniversary.

More than 50 hospital staff, community and government representatives attended the anniversary celebration and opening of The Central Coast Clinic at Brisbane Waters Private Hospital on November 19.

Member for Robertson Ms Belinda Neal, Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews, Aboriginal representative Ms Anita Selwyn and Cr Jeff Strickson attended the event along with a number of representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ms Marie Andrews, who officially opened the clinic, said it was a great delight and honour to celebrate the dual occasion for the hospital.

"I've had the occasion to visit someone at the clinic and I must say they do a great job," Ms Andrews said.

"Health experts have said that our challenge for the future will be mental health issues".

"This is predicted to be one of the leading health issue facing Australia in the future and I am very pleased that Brisbane Waters Private Hospital has acknowledged this and taken the time and the care to open up the Central Coast Clinic."

The Central Coast Clinic has eight private rooms and two twin-share rooms, totalling 12 beds, which occupy their own separate section in the hospital.

Clinical director Dr Larissa Grund said the clinic was "a real step forward".

"Resilience is a key word when we think about mental health because that is what we want to enhance and promote in all our patients," Ms Grund said.

"I think it is going to be really important for us all to work together to continue to break down the barriers and promote excellence in mental health care."

General manager Ms Annette Czerkesow said the new mental health clinic was opened to patients on October 22.

"We are already at 100 per cent occupancy and have a waiting list of patients to be admitted to the clinic.

"We have been approved for 12 beds by the Department of Health and have made application for this to be expanded to 16 beds."

The clinic offers inpatient care for patients suffering from psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, psychoses and bi-polar disorder.

"This occasion is a huge milestone for both the community and the hospital," Ms Czerkesow said.

"The services we offer are unique as we have a high acuity case mix.

"Some of our milestones at the hospital include in excess of 17,000 interventional procedures and more than 1355 heart bypass operations."

Press release, 19 Nov 2008 Ella Li, Healthscope