It’s part of the Victorian Government’s more than $100 million investment to deliver Australia’s first Specialist Women’s Mental Health Service.
A total of 35 beds will be added to Victoria’s mental health system.
Acting divisional clinical director for the Mental Health Division at GV Health Dr Raju Lakshmana said the extra beds for female mental health patients was “long overdue”.
“There’s a big section of the population, especially women, who are absolutely petrified to be in public hospitals,” he said.
“It’s a very chaotic environment.”
The new service will target women with complex mental health conditions, including those with eating disorders and those that present during the perinatal period.
“The fact that it is gender specific makes it really unique, and it gives us a lot of opportunities,” Dr Lakshmana said.
“There are also certain treatments that are probably delivered much more appropriately in a private setting.”
The beds — which will be situated at Shepparton Private Hospital — come from a new partnership between Alfred Health, Ramsay Health Care and GV Health.
They will be available for those that identify as women to access through the public health system from about April next year.
“This is a monumental change within mental health for the area,” Shepparton Private Hospital chief executive Rhys Jones said.
Mr Jones said the partnership was a direct response to recommendations for targeted mental health care for women as outlined by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
“Relationships between the public and the private sector lead to greater outcomes for Victorians,” he said.
“We’ve seen that collaboration has led to more timely treatment.”
GV Health executive director community care and mental health Josh Freeman said the partnership meant women in the Goulburn Valley had greater access to mental health care than ever before.
“This initiative is going to ensure that females within our area are going to be able to have access to trauma-informed care,” he said.
“It’s also going to mean that those that have issues in relation to pregnancy, as well as eating disorders and other trauma, are able to get the care they require.”
State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said the announcement was “very welcome” but it was the first step in upgrading the Goulburn Valley’s mental health system.
“This is just part of the recommendations that were put in place to give women their own space within the mental health system,” she said.
“Stage two of the Goulburn Valley Health (upgrade) is a major project that we want to see happen very soon, and as part of that our mental health unit will be a priority.”
Victorian Mental Health Minister James Merlino said the additional funding was designed to assist women in their recovery.
“Many Victorian women told us through the royal commission their experiences within the system haven’t supported their recovery effectively — and we’ve worked with many of those women to design services that will meet their needs,” he said.
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