ACCESS to mental health services in Wyndham is set to improve, with a private psychiatric clinic to be built in the city.
Construction of the 30-bed facility at Wyndham Private will begin early next month and work is expected to finish mid-2013.
The clinic will form stage two of the medical centre, which opened in Hoppers Lane opposite Werribee Mercy Hospital in May.
General manager David Gibson said the clinic would provide a broad range of in and outpatient mental health services for patients from across the western suburbs.
“The model of care proposed will included the use of our multi-disciplinary team in a variety of roles that will provide great continuity of care to our patients.”
The clinic would also boost the number of mental health professionals working in Wyndham, by providing more consulting rooms for them, Mr Gibson said.
As reported by the Weekly, Wyndham’s mental health services are strained, with Werribee Mercy Hospital’s mental health programs running at 90 to 100 per cent occupancy.
Mayor Kim McAliney, who has been a strong advocate for improved mental health services in the city, said boosting access to mental health care in Wyndham was a priority.
She said 22per cent of clients at the western Melbourne branch of headspace (the National Youth Mental Health Foundation) were from Wyndham, highlighting a youth mental health problem.
“It is welcomed that we are having a 30-bed facility but unfortunately it will be filled quickly.”
