Werribee is now home to a new youth and adolescent mental health unit and day surgery.
The new facilities, opened at Wyndham Clinic Private Hospital by Werribee MP Tim Pallas on Friday, have been set up to meet the demand for treatment services to combat rising mental health and substance abuse.
Wyndham Clinic director Scott Vickers- Willis said the new unit meant residents now had more options for treatment closer to family and friends.
He said the hospital was in discussions with the state government on how to best use their combined services to fight the growing ice crisis in the western suburbs.
“Our current success rate with privately insured ice patients is high, utilising specific detox and rehabilitation therapy programs,” he said.
Mr Pallas, who is also state Treasurer, said the government was keen to learn where private services such as the new facility could support and work alongside public services to overcome what he said was “a huge community challenge”.
“If somebody had told me six years ago that these sort of health services were being provided by the private clinic, as well as the upgrade to Werribee Mercy Hospital and the new St Vincents Hospital, there’s a real possibility I would’ve been very sceptical about it,” Mr Pallas said.
“We’re starting to get investment in the amenities and services needed. The need is a compelling one.”
Mr Vickers-Willis said that in the past few months, the hospital had increased its capacity to provide inpatient care by more than 40 per cent and doubled its day surgery capacity.
