- Belmont Private Hospital is the largest private mental health facility in the Gold Coast
- Redevelopment includes a new six-level building
- St Hillers has been appointed as project builder
Private hospital operator Healthe Care along with Queensland’s Mental Health Commissioner, Ivan Frkovic, today announced a $21 million expansion of Belmont Private Hospital in Brisbane – the largest private mental health facility in the state.
The redevelopment will include a new purpose-built women’s centre that will treat patients affected by perinatal mood disorders, along with a new adolescent mental health ward.
The operator says this will alleviate service gaps within the region while supporting early intervention. Notably, the 2021 Federal Budget committed $2.3 billion towards mental and suicide prevention for the next four years.
Due for completion by the middle of next year, the expansion will include a new six-level building with two storeys dedicated to hospital wards, three to car parking and one to consulting suites, along with a refurbishment of the current wards.
Along with boosting the total number of beds to 185 – an increase of 35 beds – the project will additionally increase floor space by 5,300 sqm to 14,000 sqm.
This will make the facility not just the largest private mental health facility in Queensland, but second in Australia.
Julia Strickland-Bellamy, Healthe Care CEO, said the expansions allow for greater inpatients and outpatients while maintaining its reputation as “best in class.”
“The redevelopment will mean we can increase our services in critical areas to meet high demand for beds, particularly from mothers experiencing post-natal depression and adolescents needing support,” she said.
“We have identified areas of most critical need in Queensland and introduced services accordingly, in line with our commitment to providing high quality and accessible care to patients across Australia.”
Julia Strickland-Bellamy, Healthe Care CEO
Mr Frkovic added he welcomes the initiative from the private sector to construct new hospital beds in South East Queensland.
“Queensland particularly needs additional specially-designed beds for infant and maternal mental health, as well as additional adolescent inpatient mental health services,” Mr Frkovic said.
“I congratulate Belmont Private Hospital for this significant investment into expanded inpatient mental health care options in the region.”
Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commisioner
The redevelopment will be designed by HSPC Health Architects, which will be home to what is currently the only private inpatient perinatal mood disorder service in the state – The Brisbane Centre for Postnatal Disorder.
“The new building will be the first you see when you arrive, so we have designed it to be iconic, with cues from the Queensland vernacular, including weatherboarding and sun shading to improve thermal performance,” said HSPCS architectural designer, Lauren O’Donnell.
“Across the board, our vision is to create nurturing and healing environments, tailoring each space to suit the multiple cohorts using the building. We wanted to create a warm and homely experience where people can come and feel comfortable [spending] time with their loved ones while they get well.
“One great example is the water play area in the women’s centre, so when their older children visit … there is a sense of fun and opportunities for interaction.”
Lauren O’Donnell, HSPC’S architectural designer
Privately-owned St Hilliers, who has amassed a portfolio of over $3.4 billion during the 34 years, has been appointed as project builder.
