Health team asked to visit inpatient unit

MINISTRY of Health officials will be able to see for themselves next month how badly the West Coast is in need of a new mental health unit.

West Coast District Health Board chairman Rick Barker has invited a Ministry of Health team to an onsite meeting at Manaakitanga — the old maternity ward now used as the inpatient ward in Greymouth.

No provision was made for mental health space in the new Te Nikau Hospital next door, and the ageing mental health unit will be the last remnant of the old hospital buildings now being demolished around it.

But Mr Barker said the ministry had confirmed that $15 million would be available for a new modern mental health building.

‘‘We've had some discussions with the people in the ministry, and our own West Coast team, and they agree we need to hasten the replacement — they've been very helpful.’’

The old mental health building was assessed as earthquakeprone, like other parts of the old Grey Base Hospital, and it was the subject of a section 124 notice under the Building Act.

But a second report had found the unit — built in the mid1970s — was less of a risk than previously thought, Mr Barker said.

The meeting between the DHB and ministry officials next month would discuss ideas for the new facility and lead to the development of a business case, to be presented to the board in coming months, Mr Barker said.