The provider will close 17 of its 20 clinics as it shifts to a ‘more flexible and sustainable model’.
Ramsay Health Care has announced it is closing 17 of its 20 psychology clinics as part of a major restructure of its community-based mental health services.
All but the clinics in Cairns (Queensland), Charlestown (NSW), and Joondalup (WA) will close, with the three remaining to serve as hubs for community support and pilots for new integrated care models.
In a short statement issued this afternoon, the ASX-listed hospital group said it was “reshaping how it delivers community-based mental health support to better meet the evolving needs of clients and clinicians”.
“After careful consideration, we are transitioning Ramsay Psychology to a more flexible and sustainable model, which includes the progressive closure of 17 clinics by the end of August,” the company said.
“Three clinics … will remain open to support local needs, maintain key partnerships and pilot more integrated models of care.
“We understand this change might be unsettling and we are working closely with our psychologists to ensure every client is supported and has continuity of care, whether through our existing and expanded telehealth service or with another trusted provider, depending on what is clinically appropriate.”
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The company said the move was part of a broader strategy to “strengthen how we deliver high-quality, accessible and connected care across hospital, home and virtual settings”.
A spokesperson for federal health minister Mark Butler said Ramsay’s intention was to transition to virtual clinics, “not to cease outpatient psychology services altogether”.
“Importantly, it is our understanding that patients will still have access to the psychology services they need through virtual care,” the spokesperson said.
Ramsay Psychology has eight clinics in Queensland, including Cairns (which will remain open), Fortitude Valley, Maroochydore, Southport, Ipswich, Coolangatta, Clayfield and Rockhampton.
In NSW it has six, including Erina, Parramatta, Wollongong, St Leonards, Charlestown (which will remain open) and Liverpool.
There are four in Victoria, at Box Hill, Frankston, Bundoora and South Melbourne, and three in Western Australia, including Mount Pleasant, Joondalup (which will remain open) and West Perth.