- The first element of the Cook Labor Government’s $572 million Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment has been completed
- A New Mental Health Observation Area and upgraded fast-track area will strengthen the hospital’s capacity to deliver safe, compassionate mental health care
- When completed the hospital will be the largest in regional WA
- Part of the Cook Labor Government’s record $5.5 billion investment in the State’s biggest-ever hospital building program
The Cook Labor Government’s $572 million Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment has reached a major construction milestone with the completion of a new Mental Health Observation Area (MHOA) and upgraded fast-track area.
The dedicated MHOA will support people aged 18 to 65 years, providing specialised short-stay stabilisation in a calm and therapeutic alternative to the busy emergency department.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the service will deliver assessment, observation, and short-term treatment, with admissions of up to 72 hours. This will be underpinned by robust discharge planning and continuity of care in the community to support people to get the care they need closer to home and reduce reliance on emergency departments.
The facility features six bedrooms with private ensuites, including two fully accessible rooms, alongside dedicated lounge and dining areas and a culturally inclusive courtyard designed to support patient wellbeing, safety, and recovery.
Located alongside the emergency department, the facility will support close collaboration between emergency and mental health teams while ensuring rapid access to additional clinical care if required.
The new Mental Health Observation Area will strengthen Bunbury Hospital’s capacity to deliver mental health care closer to home and support better outcomes for patients, families, and carers across the South West.
The upgraded fast-track area is designed to assess, treat, and discharge non-acute,
non-complex patients within two hours, helping improve patient flow and access to care.
The area includes 10 fast-track bays. During periods of high demand, two fast-track bays can also be used to accommodate MHOA patients.
Services at Bunbury Regional Hospital continue while the rest of the redevelopment is underway, with works carefully staged to minimise disruption and maintain access to safe, high-quality care for patients, visitors, and staff.
Once complete, Bunbury Regional Hospital will be the largest hospital in regional Western Australia, strengthening its role as a vital healthcare hub for the entire South West.
The redevelopment will significantly expand capacity, delivering additional medical and intensive care beds, an expanded emergency department, increased operating theatre capacity, as well as new and expanded maternity, birthing, and neonatal services.
As stated by Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey:
“The new Mental Health Observation Area represents a significant investment in improving access to mental health care for people across the South West.
“This purpose-built facility will ensure people experiencing a mental health crisis can receive specialist care in a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment.
“By providing short-term assessment, treatment, and observation outside the emergency department, the MHOA will ease pressure on emergency services.
“It’s another important milestone in the Bunbury Hospital Redevelopment, which is the biggest ever investment in a regional hospital and is part of our record $5.5 billion health infrastructure program.”
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
“Mental ill-health can affect anyone, and it’s important that people experiencing a mental health crisis have access to care that is compassionate, timely, and tailored to their needs.
“We know that traditional emergency departments can be challenging environments for people who need to be there for emergency mental health treatment.
“By investing in purpose-built spaces that provide highly specialised care, separate to an emergency department, we can improve outcomes for patients and their families.
“Together with the upgraded fast-track area, these new facilities will enhance care at Bunbury Regional Hospital and support the growing healthcare needs of the South West community.”
As stated by South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch:
“This new Mental Health Observation Area means people in Bunbury and the South West can access specialised mental health care closer to home in a safe and supportive environment designed to promote recovery and wellbeing.
“The Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment is delivering better healthcare for our growing community, improving access to emergency and mental health services while ensuring local families can get the care they need, closer to where they live.”
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
“Bunbury Regional Hospital plays such a critical role in the South West region, and this redevelopment is going to have so many benefits for our community.
“This new Mental Health Observation Area is a perfect example of how we are investing in better mental health outcomes for the community, by not only expanding service capacity but also thinking very carefully about how we design new clinical spaces to aid recovery.”
