Premier Ted Baillieu and Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge will visit Ballarat Base Hospital to make an announcement for Ballarat Health Services
BALLARAT is set to receive a new five-bed mother-baby health service for mothers with mental health issues.
Premier Ted Baillieu and Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge visited Ballarat Health Services (BHS) yesterday to announce the city would receive one of two perinatal units funded as part of a $6 million package in the state budget.
Ms Woodridge said the unit would ensure mothers could access top quality mental health care locally.
She said there was a critical mass of new mothers in the Ballarat region who needed support.
“Ballarat has been raising the issue for some time of new mums having to go outside the community to get the care to get what they need,” she said.
“Women will be able to stay together with their babies and continue to develop and gain confidence in their vital mothering role while receiving treatment and care.
“It’ll give new mothers the choice to stay in Ballarat with their families and with their community supports to deal with what can be very difficult post natal depression.”