Construction of the new St John of God Langmore Centre began in July and will see the former Berwick Hospital site, on Gibb Street, transformed into a premier community mental health service for both inpatient and outpatients.
Linda Allen, CEO of St John of God Health Care’s Pinelodge Clinic & Langmore Centre said, “After community consultation in late 2019 and an analysis of healthcare provision and demographics across our rapidly growing population, it was clear that there was a need for mental health services in this area. Research tells us that clients have better healthcare outcomes and more sustained recovery when they have access to early intervention of mental health services close to home.”
The redeveloped Langmore Centre is set to open in mid-2022 and will provide inpatient, day and community services and offer the latest evidence-based therapies to assist people living with a range of mild to moderate mental health conditions, addiction dependency and a specialised perinatal mental health unit to support new and expecting parents.
The facilities will include all private room accommodation for inpatients, a neuro stimulation suite for ECT and TMS treatments, in-house dining facilitates and therapy rooms, including specialised art rooms and gym. There will also be specialist consulting suites on site. The wide corridors and the lovely light-filled spaces and courtyards of the existing building will remain in order to assist in creating a peaceful and positive environment for guests.
The addition of the Langmore Centre will enhance St John of God Health Care’s scope of services in Melbourne’s South East growth corridor in particular, it will provide Gippsland residents greater access to acute mental health services. Being the only hospital dedicated to mental health in this region, the Langmore Centre will complement the broad suite of services already established in Berwick by SJGHC. These services include acute medical, surgical and maternity care, along with rehabilitation services at its Frankston hospital.
Lisa Norman, CEO SJG South East Melbourne Hospitals, sets the healthcare vision for the future of this area, “As an organisation we’ve always involved ourselves in the community and responded to its needs. This is reflected in the types of services we offer and the social outreach partnerships we form locally.
Once our Pinelodge mental health clinic moves to the Langmore Centre next year, it will round out the health care services we offer in this region, allowing us to provide whole-person care from birth through to senior years,” explains Lisa. “Following the emerging impact Covid-19 is having on our mental and physical health, it’s a service needed now more than ever and will continue to be for some time to come. We’re extremely proud to be able to provide this level of care to the community.”
An example fit out of a Mental Health Room
An artist impression of the Langmore Perinatal lounge
