Important changes planned for St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital

The Western Australian Government has announced its intention to purchase St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital, and negotiations between the State and St John of God Health Care are underway.

6 Nov 2025

Under the proposal, the hospital would continue to deliver vital health services for the community and transition into the public health system in 2026, ensuring its long-standing role in local health care is maintained.

During this transition period, St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital will continue providing both private and public healthcare services under contract.

Group Chief Executive Officer Bryan Pyne said the discussions with Government reflect St John of God Health Care’s ongoing commitment to ensuring Perth’s health facilities and services evolve with the community’s changing needs.

“Over time, Perth’s population has grown and shifted, and that has changed where and how people need care,” Mr Pyne said.

“We’ve seen a reduction in demand for private hospital services in the Mt Lawley area, which is already well served by St John of God Health Care and other private hospitals, while at the same time there is growing demand for private care at our Subiaco, Murdoch and Midland hospitals.”

Mr Pyne said the organisation is also responding to rapid population growth in Perth’s eastern corridor.

“That growth is driving development of our new Midland Private Hospital — a brand new, state-of-the-art standalone hospital that is being built to meet the current and future health needs of Perth’s eastern suburbs and the wider Wheatbelt region,” he said.

St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital already plays an important role in delivering publicly funded services, including the Ursula Frayne Unit, which provides inpatient care and recovery-focused mental health services for older adults.

“The proposed transfer to the State would ensure the ongoing provision of these essential public health services while allowing St John of God Health Care to focus on addressing the increasing private health care needs across Perth’s growing population, including in the eastern suburbs,” Mr Pyne said.

St John of God Health Care remains committed to supporting caregivers and specialists throughout the transition. A significant number of caregivers will be provided the opportunity to take up positions at the new Midland Private Hospital when it opens in 2026.

“We are proud of Mt Lawley’s long legacy of care and deeply grateful to our caregivers and specialists for their ongoing commitment to providing healing, hope and dignity,” Mr Pyne said.

Further details about the proposed transition are expected to be confirmed in the coming months.

For more information please see the information below and visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital remains open and operating as normal.

Please be assured that there is no immediate change to scheduled admissions, surgeries or appointments provided at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital. Our commitment to the care and safety of our patients during this time remains unchanged.

As planning progresses, some services may transition to other St John of God facilities. If your care or appointment is affected, we’ll contact you in advance to discuss next steps and ensure a smooth transition.

St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital remains open and operating as normal with no impact to current patients. Our commitment to the care and safety of our patients during this time remains unchanged.

Pending negotiations, we will be moving most of our private services to other St John of God Health Care hospitals in Subiaco, Murdoch and Midland in 2026 to continue serving the community.

We know many people use other onsite services like Mercy Physio, SKG and Clinical Labs. For now, these services continue to operate. We are in discussions with all service providers about their future plans and will share updates as soon as more information is available.