This article was written by Project Urban. Read the full version here.
Project Urban recently assisted Thompson Brain and Mind Healthcare (TBMH) to obtain master planning approval and provide survey services for their new mental health treatment and research facility at the Birtinya health hub.
This state-of-the-art facility has been designed to provide world-class mental health treatment and research with a primary focus on translating mental health research discoveries into real-world treatments…
This article was first published by the Sunshine Coast Daily/Courier Mail on September 26, 2023.
An eight-storey mental health hospital offering the latest treatments is being planned for the Sunshine Coast’s growing health hub, with the help of wealthy philanthropists.
A state-of-the-art mental health and brain hospital proposed for the Sunshine Coast health hub could bring Queensland-first treatments to the region.
Thompson Brain and Mind Healthcare has lodged plans with Sunshine Coast Council to build an eight-storey healthcare building at Eccles Boulevard, opposite to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Birtinya.
The multimillion project, funded by Sunshine Coast philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson, will create between 200-300 jobs.
Thompson Brain and Mind Healthcare director and CEO Jim Lagopoulos established the not-for-profit organisation in 2023.
The aim of the facility is to offer the latest treatments for people with mental health conditions, while also developing new treatments, Mr Lagopoulos said.
“There are a lot of really promising new treatment options that are identified and they get developed as part of a research pipeline,” he said.
“Here in Australia, it takes a long time to translate these research outcomes into real-world treatment options that help people.”
Mr Lagopoulos said it would be a “one-of-a-kind” development that would help make the Sunshine Coast’s health hub “world-class.”
A development application stated the latest technology and equipment will be installed including advanced imaging and diagnostic tools.
“There will be a focus on the use of neuroimaging for precision treatment of mental health disorders,” documents stated.
“This facility has the potential to transform current approaches to mental health treatment and research.”
Documents revealed 3369sq m would be dedicated to health care premises and 2710sq m would be allocated to health-oriented commercial premises.
It is proposed the health care premises would include a medical centre and general practitioners, imaging, a brain stimulation clinic, a specialist mental health treatment facility and a variety of specialists.
Specialist services provided would be Allied Health including physiology, dietetics and sleep medicine.
The medical development would also facilitate clinical research and trials, as well as outreach and community mental health programs.
According to the application the ground floor would be allocated for healthcare premises, the first and second levels for car parks and a commercial tenancy and the fourth for tenancies.
Part of level four through to level seven would then be dedicated to hospital and research purposes.
In total, there would be 217 carparking spaces available.
If approved, the facility would neighbour a childcare centre and hotel on Shine Court.
Once construction starts, the project would take about two years to complete.