Completion of new Mental Health Observation Area at Bunbury Regional Hospital
The $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 primarily 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.