Ward 11 at Wakari Hospital will not be closed without plans in place for appropriate care for its residents, the Southern District Health Board says.
Ward 11, a clinical rehabilitation and overflow ward with 16 beds, is one of several parts of the Wakari complex either in a dilapidated state or deemed not fit for purpose.
An independent inquiry into its mental health services commissioned by the SDHB urged the board to ‘‘clearly signal’’ its intent to eventually close Wakari, after ways had been found to deliver its services elsewhere.
The board subsequently announced its intention to close the facility, but the Otago Daily Times has been contacted both by people with family in Ward 11 and mental health workers, concerned they had been told little of the board’s intentions.
‘‘No-one is telling us what is going on,’’ one family member said, while a staff member said no-one knew the board’s plans for residents and staff.
Board acting general manager, mental health, addictions and intellectual disability directorate Steve Bayne yesterday sought to reassure those asking questions about the future of Ward 11.
‘‘Patients and whanau can be reassured there is no imminent closure of Ward 11,’’ he said.
‘‘We recognise very well that those using this service may have very high and complex needs, and that it will take time to ensure appropriate alternative care is available.’’
Families would be consulted as part of the process concerning their loved ones, but it might be a year or more before any changes were made which would affect patients directly, Mr Bayne said.
‘‘This would be worked through carefully with those involved, and anyone with questions about this is welcome to contact us to discuss their situation.’’
The review had highlighted the need for the SDHB to develop an alternative, more fit-for-purpose environment than provided by Ward 11 for people who needed complex mental health and intellectual disability care, Mr Bayne said.
‘‘We have since called for expressions of interest from providers who might wish to be part of longer-term solutions, and we are ... reviewing these.
‘‘This will take some time to work through and understand how services might be better configured in the future.’’
The Wakari complex was recently inspected by the Ministry of Health’s infrastructure unit and a draft facilities safety survey approved.
The infrastructure unit is working with the Government’s mental health infrastructure programme to support DHBs on mental health and addiction projects and also help DHBs — such as Southern — which are evaluating possible projects.
A report to the board said three DHB acute facilities had agreed to take part in the survey, which focused on facility design, patient and staff safety, and kaupapa maori considerations.
Ward 9b, an intensive/acute mental health unit with 13 beds, was identified as a priority for building work, and Ward 10a, a 13-bed medium secure unit, was added to the capital work programme.
