$44m private hospital Matilda Nepean officially opens in Kingswood

A $44 million private hospital – promising “world-class” healthcare and a major focus on mental health services – has officially opened its doors at western Sydney.

Matilda Nepean is a new private hospital located at Kingswood.

A $44 million private hospital – promising “world-class” healthcare and a major focus on mental health services – has officially opened its doors at western Sydney.

The 90-bed Matilda Nepean facility, located at Kingswood, which will begin take patients in coming days held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the region’s political leaders, Penrith state Liberal MP Stuart Ayres and Lindsay federal Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh.

Mr Ayres, speaking at the ceremony which had more than 100 doctors in attendance, described the hospital as “a wonderful story of blending public and private together” which will “give great healthcare to great citizens”.

“You will change lives in this building,” he said.

Ms McIntosh, who is the Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, said the area was experiencing a spiralling mental health crisis.

From (L-R) Dr Harry Pannu, Hon Stuart Ayres MP, Melissa McIntosh MP and Chris Smith, Australian Unity

“We’ve had a tsunami of mental health issues from the cumulative impacts of the pandemic and the natural disasters hitting this area, time and time again and playing a big part in the mental health issues of western Sydney,” she said.

“From a mental health perspective I am so proud we are going to have a facility like this in Penrith with the growing mental health crisis.”

Hypnotherapy pool at Matilda Nepean hospital

Almost a third of the facility’s beds will be dedicated to mental health services, including outpatient and inpatient treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy, art therapy, group therapy and counselling.

Matilda Nepean’s managing director Dr Harry Pannu said the facility was designed around long term outcomes.

“It’s about the whole therapeutic journey, how we look after our patients in the long term so we prevent these crises from happening again,” he said.

Dr Pannu also said there were plans in the pipeline for further expansion of the mental health services.

“At the end of the day the community will dictate how we grow, but if there is a growing need then the mental health unit would expand to be a stand alone building.”

The hospital will also provide rehabilitation, ambulatory care, geriatrics and palliative care services, as well as a hydrotherapy pool, gymnasium, hairdresser and cafe.