Napthine-Wooldridge – Major mental health project begins at Werribee Mercy Hospital

· $34 million for major mental health upgrade at Werribee Mercy Hospital
· More than 100 construction jobs and 30 additional clinical jobs in  Werribe
· Largest ever boost to mental health in the Melbourne’s west

The Victorian Coalition Government is investing $34 million in the construction of the Werribee Mercy mental health expansion project – one of the largest public mental health projects underway in Victoria.

Premier Denis Napthine and Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge today marked the start of construction at the site.

“This investment represents the largest ever funding boost for mental health services in Melbourne’s west and will improve access to, and the quality of, mental health care for people in the area,” Dr Napthine said.

“The upgrade creates more than 100 construction jobs and there will be an additional 30 clinical jobs in Werribee when it opens in 2016.

“The expansion will see 54 mental health beds built in a brand new, contemporary mental health facility, an increase of 25 acute mental health beds at Werribee Mercy Hospital,” Dr Napthine said.

Dr Napthine said there is currently more than $4.5 billion in health infrastructure projects underway across Victoria.

Ms Wooldridge said the Victorian Coalition Government is investing in improved access to the highest quality mental health care.

“Labor’s neglect of mental health services in the west, combined with its failure to plan for rapid population growth, has placed significant pressure on the Werribee Mercy Hospital.

“When Labor left office, more than two-thirds of people with a mental illness were waiting longer than eight hours in the Emergency Department for a bed, making it the most under-pressure hospital in the state for mental health services.

“This project will prevent delays which have resulted in local residents travelling to surrounding suburbs for treatment,” Ms Wooldridge said.

Since coming to office, the Coalition Government has invested in the western suburbs of Melbourne through increased community-based clinical treatment and home-based support for people with a mental illness, as well as a new four-bed Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Unit (PAPU) at Sunshine Hospital.

Investments made in mental health as part of the 2014-15 Victorian State Budget takes the Coalition’s annual investment in mental health to a record $1.26 billion, a 25 per cent increase above the last year of the Labor Government.

“Today is all about delivering on our commitment to provide more mental health services, particularly for those living in our growth corridors,”
Ms Wooldridge said.