The Hills Clinic Kellyville: Aurora Healthcare, NorthWest plan mental health hospital expansion

After two years of Covid wreaking havoc, a mental health hospital in The Hills is planning to undergo a $50m expansion to meet the rising demand for services.

Covid brought about an unprecedented spike in demand for mental health services, which is why a Kellyville hospital could soon receive a $50 million expansion.

The Hills Clinic is a specialist practice which provides private psychiatric and psychological treatment for a wide range of mental health disorders.

Developer NorthWest, and its hospital operating partner Aurora Healthcare, are planning to expand The Hills Clinic hospital across 4430 sqm of newly acquired land.

The current entrance to The Hills Clinic

The CEO of Aurora Australia, Julia Strickland-Bellamy, spoke exclusively to The Hills Shire Times about the need for this proposed expansion.

“The rapid change brought about by Covid-19 to ‘everyday normal’ saw a huge spike in demand for mental health services in the first year of the pandemic,” she said.

“Financial and relationship pressures, job uncertainty and isolation made it challenging to keep up with demand when the pandemic first hit, and our hospitals and outpatient businesses were the busiest we’ve seen.”

According to Ms Strickland-Bellamy, the demand for mental health care is only continuing to increase: “this year, 2022 has seen renewed and increasing demand for, and a greater number of people accessing mental health services.”

“In the two years since the onset of the pandemic, The Hills Clinic has recorded a 43 per cent increase in day patient attendances and a 31 per cent increase in inpatient admissions.”

An aerial view of The Hills Clinic proposed expansion

The proposed development consists of the construction of an adjacent two-storey hospital with extra beds and group therapy rooms plus a new basement carpark.

They also plan to extend the existing hospital and its services for current patients, while introducing new treatment offerings.

According to Ms Strickland-Bellamy, “young adults will remain a key part of our expanded services while eating disorders, PTSD for first responders, trauma and addictions are all under consideration.”

There are also plans for an enhanced treatment experience through expanded facilities such as patient activity areas, including outside space and a gymnasium, and private doctors’ consulting rooms.

The Hills Clinic’s current interior

“(This expansion will) provide recruitment opportunities for psychiatrists, allied health, nurses and staff generally to support this growing service,” Ms Strickland Bellamy said.

NorthWest and Aurora Healthcare are currently launching the process for development approval.

If approved, the hospital’s expansion is planned to commence in 2023 and welcome the first patients by late 2024.