Emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hubs

The emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub project will be delivered in stages with completion expected across all sites in late 2024.

Subject to a delivery model for the hubs being finalised, the project will:

• establish six emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drug hubs in Victoria’s busiest hospitals
• increase clinical consulting areas and short stay units for Victorians experiencing mental ill-health
• provide more specialist staff and support areas.

The new hubs will be delivered at the following locations:

• Barwon Health’s University Hospital Geelong - Bellerine St, Geelong
  The hub has five beds, located in the hospital’s existing emergency department administration area and ambulance bay. The project was completed in late 2021.
  Learn more about the University Hospital Geelong emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub project via our dedicated project page.
   
• Monash Health’s Monash Medical Centre - 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton
  The hub has six beds, delivered as part of a $76.3 million expansion of Monash Medical Centre’s emergency department. It was completed in late 2021.
  Learn more about the Monash Medical Centre expansion project via our dedicated project page.
   
• Peninsula Health’s Frankston Hospital - 2 Hastings Road, Frankston
  The hub will have five beds, delivered as part of a $605 million redevelopment and expansion of Frankston Hospital and is expected to be operational in 2025.
  Learn more about the Frankston Hospital redevelopment via our dedicated project page.
   
• St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne - 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
  The hub has six beds, located in the existing emergency department area. The project also involved the reconfiguration of the emergency department ambulance entry and the delivery of behavioural assessment room (BAR). The project was completed in 2022.
  Learn more about the St Vincent’s Hospital emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub project via our dedicated project page.
   
• The Royal Melbourne Hospital - 300 Grattan St, Parkville
  The hub has six beds, located within the existing emergency department area. Construction was completed in mid-2023. Learn more about The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department redevelopment via our dedicated project page.
   
• Western Health’s Sunshine Hospital - Furlong Rd, St Albans
  The hub has six beds, delivered as part of a $34.9 million major redevelopment of Sunshine Hospital’s emergency department. It was completed in early 2021. Learn more about the Sunshine Hospital redevelopment via our dedicated project page.

The emergency department mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub project aims to achieve the following benefits:

Urgent mental healthcare where and when it’s needed

The new hub will support the growing number of people with mental health, drug and alcohol problems seeking help in emergency departments get the help they need, sooner.

Specialised care and support

Patients will be assessed and treated by an emergency department team – made up of psychiatrists, nurses and social workers – and referred to other services as required.

Contemporary mental healthcare

The project will deliver emergency facilities that support safe and modern emergency care, providing more support for Victorians presenting at emergency departments and need dedicated clinical care.

Why is this investment needed?

The hubs will address critical demand issues by increasing capacity, reducing pressure on general emergency departments, and providing additional support for people experiencing mental illness, alcohol or other drug related issues who require immediate treatment.

What kind of medical care will the hubs provide?

Patients will be assessed and treated by an emergency department team – made up of psychiatrists, nurses and social workers – and referred to other services as required.

Who will be supported by these new services?

Severe mental illness affects a range of people from different family, cultural, economic and social backgrounds. The new hubs will provide people with better access to specialised treatment and support and reduce pressure on emergency departments.

Where has the funding come from?

The new hubs are part of a record $705 million investment in the 2018-19 Victorian State Budget.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

• Barwon Health
• Monash Health
• Peninsula Health
• St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
• The Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Western Health.

Consultants for Barwon Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital are:

• Johnstaff Projects – Project manager
• Silver Thomas Hanley – Architects
• DCWC – Quantity surveyors
• Steve Watson & Partners – Building surveyors.

Head contractors for the project are:

• Barwon Health – Kane Constructions
• Monash Health – Kane Constructions
• Peninsula Health – TBC
• St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne – Alchemy Construct
• The Royal Melbourne Hospital – Plan Group
• Western Health – Lendlease.