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A purpose-built 24-bed mental health rehabilitation service has officially opened in Adelaide’s west, marking a major milestone in South Australia’s mental health care. Located on Woodville Road opposite The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), the new facility will welcome its first patients this week.
The service is the first of three specialist mental health rehabilitation units being rolled out by the SA Government, with further facilities under construction at Noarlunga and Modbury. Together, the units are designed to deliver better support for patients while easing pressure on emergency departments across the state.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the initiative represents a significant step forward for South Australian mental health services. “This is an historic milestone for mental health care in South Australia, as we deliver a generational uplift in our mental health bed capacity. This brand-new 24-bed QEH mental health service is the first of three specialist mental health rehabilitation units that we are opening across Adelaide. They will deliver better care to mental health patients and help take pressure off our busy emergency departments,” he said.
The QEH facility has been designed with direct input from both patients and carers to create a home-like environment that promotes rehabilitation and recovery. Each single-bed room includes a private ensuite, with access to outdoor areas, therapy and recreation spaces. The model is focused on helping patients transition safely back into the community after acute care, with average stays expected to range from four to 12 weeks.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton said the facility reinforces the government’s commitment to improving mental health care. “It’s fantastic to have the first of these specialist services now open, in Adelaide’s west. It will take pressure off the nearby QEH and importantly will be a much better home-like environment for mental health patients. This service is the latest addition in a massive expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by our Government – we’re adding 140 extra beds over 18 months.”
The expansion of the QEH includes new medical, surgical, rehabilitation, and emergency beds, with the 24 mental health beds joining the 26 new medical and surgical beds opened last month, and an additional 10 surgical beds still to come by the end of 2025. Altogether, the project represents a 40 per cent uplift in capacity, with 140 additional beds delivered in 18 months.
CALHN Executive Director of Mental Health, Dr Paul Furst, said the new facility reflects a more progressive model of care. “This Mental Health Rehabilitation Service represents a new model for caring for consumers who need more time for recovery and assistance to safely return to the community. With a setting designed to be home-like and promoting the continuation of life skills, we anticipate successful outcomes and the avoidance of acute deterioration in mental health and the need for crisis care.”
CALHN Chief Executive Officer Dr Emma McCahon said collaboration with consumers and clinicians has been central to the design. “Every part of this new Mental Health Rehabilitation Service has been co-designed with consumers and clinicians to ensure that consumers have access to safe and connected care in a purpose-built space, designed for recovery. Between hospital and community, the service will be a valuable addition to support consumer recovery.”
With a phased opening beginning this week for the first 12 patients, the new QEH unit is expected to support up to 100 people each year—delivering much-needed relief to one of Adelaide’s busiest hospitals while offering a pathway to recovery in a safe and supportive setting.
