The approval of a business case to shift a number of specialist mental health services to a new facility on the Hillmorton site has been welcomed by Canterbury District Health Board.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman announced that the indicative business case had been approved and up to $57 million would be spent on one of two options for shifting services from The Princess Margaret Hospital to the Hillmorton Hospital campus site.
Dr John Wood, DHB chair, said it was delighted that it had been given the green light to move the project to the next stage – a detailed business case.
“This is fantastic news for our community and will be welcome news for mental health staff – particularly those who are working from outdated facilities.”
Older people’s health and rehabilitation services have already moved from the Princess Margaret site to new facilities at Burwood Hospital. But a number of specialist inpatient mental health services remain at Princess Margaret until a new home can be provided. These include a dedicated ‘mums and babies’ unit; child, adolescent and family services; and an eating disorders unit.
The aim is for a new specialist mental health services facility to be completed within three years.
