Construction on new Cairns mental health unit gets underway

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath today turned the first sod on the new $70 million, 53-bed  Cairns mental health unit.

Minister D’Ath said the new three-storey building, including a 10-bed Mental Health Intensive Care unit, was part of an ongoing expansion of Cairns Hospital.

The tender to build the new mental health unit has been awarded to Hutchinson Builders.

“Mental health issues affect one in four people in our community, which underlines the importance of this new facility for Cairns and the Far North,” the Minister said.

“It represents $70 million worth of investment and marks an important upgrade of local acute mental health services.

“Staff and service users, including patients and their families, were extensively consulted in the design of the new mental health unit.

“The end result will be a new purpose-built facility providing a modern and therapeutic environment to help the recovery of mental health patients.

“I want to thank the Member for Cairns Michael Healy for his tireless advocacy for this expansion of acute mental health services in the local community.”

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the new mental health unit at Cairns Hospital would cater to increasing demand for local mental health services.

“Local patients and families have long been campaigning for improved mental health services and that’s what we’re delivering,” Mr Healy said.

“This new facility will provide a more flexible response to acute mental health needs in a supportive environment.

“This is also an important infrastructure project for the Cairns economy, creating nearly 70 full-time equivalent jobs over the life of the project.”

The new 53-bed unit will consist of:

• • A 10-bed Mental Health Intensive Care unit
  • 38 beds across two adult acute Mental Health Inpatient Units
  • 5 extra beds – built into the two units

While construction is underway, patients will continue to receive the mental health care they need in the existing Cairns Hospital.

Works are programmed to be complete by the end of 2023, with the facility becoming operational early in 2024.

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008