An improve of Tauranga’s foremost psychological well being facility will enhance the variety of beds by three.

But the revamp received’t occur till the way forward for the Tauranga Hospital web site is understood.

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand mentioned in an announcement that Tauranga Hospital’s Acute Mental Health Inpatient unit can be upgraded to make sure enhancements have been in place as quickly as attainable for tāngata whaiora (service customers), whānau and workers.

Earlier this month, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall authorised a enterprise case that really useful a right away improve as the best answer to the affected person and workers questions of safety recognized on the unit.

A plan to switch the power had beforehand been introduced. However, the way forward for the broader Tauranga Hospital web site had since come beneath overview.

Six Tauranga Hospital buildings are categorized as earthquake-prone and the world’s inhabitants is rising. As a outcome, the choices for a hospital campus revamp are being thought of as a part of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand’s regional hospital redevelopment programme. Planning choices for the hospital might be explored, together with the long run location of a substitute psychological well being facility.

In the assertion, Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty performing interim hospital and specialist providers lead Sarah Mitchell mentioned: “Expert advice is that mental health facilities should be located near other hospital services, whenever possible. Building a replacement mental health facility at the same site would mean the facility would not be within easy reach of other hospital services if Tauranga Hospital did move to a new location.”

Mitchell mentioned the improve meant a substitute facility may very well be thought of as soon as the way forward for the Tauranga Hospital web site is understood.

“We acknowledge the decision not to build a replacement facility now may be disappointing to the community, but it is worth remembering the current facility is relatively new, having been purpose-built in 2001. The upgrade will increase its number of beds from 26 to 29, and address the immediate safety issues identified at the unit,” she mentioned.

The work was anticipated to be completed in late 2025 and can be performed with as little disruption to sufferers and workers as attainable, the assertion mentioned.

“The Mental Health and Addiction services team in Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi is dedicated, skilled and knowledgeable in the provision of services to those with specialist mental health and addiction needs. The team remains committed to achieving a replacement facility in the future and in the meantime will continue to provide quality services to the community in an upgraded and enlarged unit.

“We are not willing to delay the important improvements to the unit that are needed while this wider planning work is undertaken.

“Ultimately, the community will be better served by linking the decision-making around mental health infrastructure to the decisions that are yet to be made about where the hospital is sited,” mentioned Mitchell.

In addition to the upgrades deliberate for the Tauranga facility, there have been a number of initiatives to switch or improve psychological well being services throughout the Te Manawa Taki area (made up of the Waikato, Lakes, Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti and Taranaki areas).

Site works had began to switch the acute psychological well being and habit services in Rotorua and Tairāwhiti, whereas a enterprise case is being ready for the proposed substitute of the psychological well being facility at Whakatāne Hospital, in addition to to hold out the interim upgrades wanted to the present facility.