Ramsay Health Care to shut 17 of its 20 psychology clinics in major blow to thousands of Australians

Sky News AU

3 days ago

Australia's largest private hospital operator is closing 17 of its 20 mental health clinics across the nation in a blow to thousands of patients that rely on the critical services.
Ramsay Health Care said it would close the vast majority of its clinics in a staff meeting delivered earlier this month, which a a spokesperson has since confirmed.
'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,' a statement from Ramsay Health Care said.
'Three clinics, in Cairns (QLD), Charlestown (NSW) and Joondalup (WA), will remain open to support local needs, maintain key partnerships and pilot more integrated models of care.'
Ramsay said the company 'understands' the closures 'might be unsettling' for its clients.
'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,' the company's statement said.
'This change is part of Ramsay's broader strategy to strengthen how we deliver high-quality, accessible and connected care across hospital, home and virtual settings.'
Ramsay sees a broad range of patients including children and young people with PTSD.
One anonymous Ramsay psychologist expressed concern about the many patients who are forced to find alternative care after the clinics shut down.
"Clients are being left in limbo because they potentially are going to have to wait a month or two to see their regular psychologist if they are continuing on somewhere else, or they're going to have to start all over again," she told the ABC.
"The more clients are going through revolving doors, eventually, they just give up.
"This has been extremely frustrating because I'm trying to advocate for clients and for best client care, but it's like words are falling on deaf ears, they are not taking concerns seriously."
Clinic to shut down in Western Australia include one in West Perth and Mount Pleasant.
Victorian clinics include spots in South Melbourne, Box Hill, Bundoora and Frankston, while NSW clinics to close are in St Leonards, Parramatta, Erina and Wollongong.
Meanwhile, the Fortitude Valley, Clayfield, Ipswich, Southport, Maroochydore and Coolangatta clinics in Queensland will close down.
The closures come amid troubles in the Australian private health sector.
Healthscope, which runs 37 hospitals across Australia, recently went under as it faced $1.6 trillion of debt and its lenders voted to put it into receivership.
It has received a $100 million lifeline from Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which comes in addition to its current cash balance of $110m and 'substantial additional asset backing across the group', according to Healthscope.
The company continues to look for a buyer, but is reportedly pursuing plans to turn itself into a charitable organisation to reduce payroll tax payments and retain its hospitals.