St Helen's Private Hospital closure
St Helen's Private Hospital is a private mental health facility operated by Healthscope in Hobart. Healthscope has announced it will be closing the hospital next month. Hospital services will end in June and the building will be up for sale in July.
The closure of the hospital has created a challenge for people who have been receiving care there. The Tasmanian Government is working with both public and private services across the state to make sure that our health system continues to meet our community needs.
What are we doing about it?
We understand the disappointment regarding the closure of St Helen's Private Hospital. A priority for us is to be proactive by:
- minimising the impact on patients, and
- working with partners across the health system to ensure care continues for those currently using the service.
We understand it is important to maintain access to all service types previously provided by the hospital. We are committed to exploring all options to maintain access to:
- inpatient services and day programs for mental health, alcohol and drug treatment
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
We will achieve this by:
- collaborating with our partners across all parts of the health system
- exploring all options to maintain access to vital services
- ensuring our operation is efficient and sustainable, and
- allowing patients to choose their preferred provider.
Who are we talking to?
We value the input of our staff and the wider community in our efforts to provide high‑quality healthcare services.
We are consulting widely across all the service specialities. This will ensure we continue to meet community needs. Our consultations involve clinical experts. This is crucial to ensuring that any services we deliver align with proven practices and operational efficiencies.
By working together, we are confident we can provide the best possible care to Tasmanians.
What will happen to patients at the hospital?
For people who have been receiving treatment at St Helen's Private Hospital, we understand that this is a challenging time. We encourage patients to speak to their treating doctor and discuss alternative care options that are available across both the public and private system. Your doctors are the experts in care. They will be able to provide information and support to help you transition your care to a new provider.
Healthscope has committed to ensuring a smooth and safe transition for patients of St. Helen's Private Hospital in preparation of its closure. To fulfil this responsibility, they are allocating additional staff and resources from their mainland teams. This support will enable the hospital's psychiatrists to plan the safe discharge of their patients, ensuring uninterrupted care. Patients and their families are encouraged to speak to their treating doctor or to contact Healthscope's support team, who are readily available to address any questions or concerns.
What will happen to staff at the hospital?
We understand the challenges faced by the staff at St. Helen's Private Hospital during this difficult time. Our priority is to provide comprehensive support and resources to these staff members who express interest in joining our team after the closure of the hospital.
We have fast-tracked the appointment of staff to our casual employment registers, and a recruitment campaign is in progress. Interested staff members will receive information about the campaign, and we are planning a job fair in the future.
We are here to help and answer any questions or concerns. Representatives from the Department will be available to meet with staff members individually in the coming weeks. We are committed to supporting the staff during this transition and providing opportunities for them in the healthcare sector.
Will my personal information be safe?
Patients may have concerns about the confidentiality and privacy of their personal information. We can assure patients that all personal files and sensitive information will be handled by Healthscope in accordance with relevant privacy laws and regulations.
What will happen to the Mother and Baby Unit?
- be operational in mid-June, before St. Helen's Private Hospital closes
- have three dedicated beds in a separate, nurturing environment, and
- accommodate mothers experiencing mental ill-health such as postnatal depression and anxiety.
We are committed to maintaining a ward which is:
- cohesive and dedicated, and
- staffed by specialised professionals who are equipped to provide the best possible care to our patients.
Access Mental Health, our statewide mental health support, triage, and referral line, will continue to facilitate referrals to the Mother and Baby Unit. This innovative service provides:
- immediate psychosocial and emotional support over the phone
- referral to public mental health services, and
- connection to community teams for existing consumers, as well as their carers, families, and friends.
Our goal is to create a best-practice model for mothers and babies by working together with private providers, primary care, and the federal government.
By pooling our resources and expertise, we can build a stronger and more inclusive mental health care system that prioritises the well-being of Tasmanians. Through partnerships and a patient-centred approach, we are confident in providing a system that gives people the freedom to choose their healthcare provider and promotes the health and happiness of our community.
What will happen to other services which were available at St Helen’s?
We understand the importance of maintaining access to all services previously provided by the hospital. This includes:
- inpatient services and day programs for mental health, alcohol and drug treatment
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
To achieve this, we are working closely with partners across the health system to:
- explore all options
- ensure that people have access to the care they need, and
- ensure people have the freedom choose their preferred provider.
Our goal
- Maintain access to vital services
- Operate efficiently and sustainably
- Enable patients to choose their preferred provider.
To provide the best mental health care for our community, it's important for all parts of the health system to work together. This includes:
- private providers
- primary care, and
- government.
By working together, we can offer a wide range of services that meet each person's needs on their mental health journey and give people the freedom to choose their healthcare provider. We would particularly like to recognise The Hobart Clinic for their early engagement in this planning process and their commitment to future service expansion.
We recognise that community settings are the best place for many patients to receive mental health care and support. The Tasmanian Government is looking at ways to transform how we deliver mental health services to our community. An example of this is our investment in community-based services and facilities, like the Peacock Centre. Our multi-million-dollar investments in the Tasmanian Mental Health Reform Program have led to the addition of many new beds for Tasmanians in need.
We opened the Peacock Centre in March this year. The centre, based in North Hobart, includes a new 12-bed short‑stay unit providing specialist treatment in a home-like environment. Another 15 mental health beds are planned at St. John's Park, New Town in late 2024/early 2025.
We are continuously working to develop and implement new services to better support Tasmanians. An example is the Mental Health Hospital In The Home (or HITH). Work is underway to develop HITH for youth in the North West. We expect this to be operational later this year.
The Police, Ambulance and Clinician Early Response (PACER) service is a relatively new service, launched in Tasmania in 2022. PACER is a tri-agency service made up of mental health clinicians, police officers, and paramedics. It is designed to help a person avoid unnecessary trips to a hospital emergency department by assessing the situation and providing timely support. After the success of the southern PACER model, we are committed to:
- funding its ongoing operation in the South and
- a two-year trial of a similar mental health emergency response model in the North West commencing later this year.
The Tasmanian Government is also investing $120 million to build two contemporary Mental Health Services precincts in the North and North-West of the State. We will continue to fund mental health treatment and support services provided by community sector organisations across the state.
Read more information about our Mental Health Integration Hub
Where can I get support?
For information about available services in Tasmania, we encourage you to visit our mental health and alcohol and drug services pages, or utilise the resources provided by FindHelpTAS.
Additionally, our Peacock Centre Mental Health Integration Hub is a welcoming place where our friendly staff can help connect you with the services that best meet your needs. Please feel free to stop by or get in touch with us to learn more.
Peacock Centre Mental Health Integration Hub
The Mental Health Integration Hub is a welcoming place providing short term, practical mental health support, information, advice and assistance. The Hub can help you to navigate mental health services and provide referrals and connections to other community services.
Phone: (03) 6166 0755
Address: Mental Health Integration Hub, Peacock Centre, 10 Elphinstone Road, North Hobart 7000
FindHelpTAS
FindHelpTAS is a free, online directory with over 900 services that support the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians and our communities.
Website: www.findhelptas.org.au
Head to Health
Head to Health can help you find digital mental health services from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.
Head to Health brings together apps, online programs, online forums, and phone services, as well as a range of digital information resources.
Head to Health is an Australian Government Department of health and Aged Care initiative.
Website: www.headtohealth.gov.au
When and how can people find out more?
As we diligently work through our plan to maintain uninterrupted services, we are committed to keeping the Tasmanian community informed every step of the way. We understand the importance of timely updates and will strive to keep this webpage current with any new developments. We encourage you to check back frequently for the latest information regarding the progress of our plan.