St John of God Burwood Hospital currently hosts the only private Mother and baby Unit in New South Wales and recognises the development as an important step forward in offering a whole of system approach to perinatal mental health. 

CEO St John God Burwood and Richmond Hospital Colman O’Driscoll praised the development that is due for completion in 2021.

“The introduction of additional services through the public Mother and Baby Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital will boost the State’s current capacity for inpatient perinatal mental illness, he said.

“Public and private healthcare each have an important role to play to provide greater availability of health services for all those in need and ultimately providing consumers with greater choice.”

St John of God Health Care Perinatal Mental Health Psychiatrist Professor Marie-Paule Austin, who leads the Mother and Baby Unit at Burwood Hospital, said that the additional resources were essential to increase availability and access to perinatal mental health care.

“This is an important announcement for the State and we look forward to developing opportunities where we might assist and complement NSW Health as they develop the service, she said.

“With around one in seven women affected by perinatal mental health, this new public unit will work to support health outcomes for women and families across New South Wales which will have a flow on effect into the community.”

“It is important to provide an integrated approach to mental health in an inpatient hospital setting where the mother, baby and partner can be cared for holistically.”

The Mother Baby Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is expected to open by the end of 2021. Read the NSW Health media release.