An exciting step forward for Canterbury’s mental health services, with the location of the region’s new child and youth mental health outpatient facility finalised.
The facility, which is being jointly developed by Māia Health Foundation and the Canterbury DHB, will be located at the former Canterbury Linen Services building, which is on the outskirts of the Hillmorton campus.
Canterbury DHB’s Board has approved substantial funding to redevelop the site, including earthquake strengthening to provide an upgraded ‘shell’. Once this first phase is complete a full fit-out will be carried out, creating a modern, fit for purpose Child, Adolescent and Family (CAF) outpatient facility. It is this fit-out which will be largely funded by Māia Health Foundation.
Māia Health Foundation Chief Executive Michael Flatman says having the DHB confirm the location of the new facility is an exciting step forward for the project.
“The DHB has put considerable effort into identifying a setting for the new CAF facility that will be welcoming for children, young people and their whānau while also providing an appropriate space for the delivery of clinical care.
“We believe the Canterbury Linen Services building is an ideal site. It offers exciting scope to create a fully refurbished CAF outpatient facility which is contemporary, welcoming and recovery focused. It will be a space where people feel safe and respected and will offer a range of therapeutic spaces to enable treatments and therapies which are not possible in the current environment.”
At the beginning of December Māia Health Foundation launched its ‘Shine A Light’ appeal, in which Māia aims to raise $100,000 in three weeks to kick-start fundraising for this new facility. It’s estimated Māia will contribute at least $5 million to the fit-out of the new facility, but final costings and timelines will be confirmed once detailed design work is complete.
Currently the Child, Adolescent and Family outpatient service operates across three facilities, with the majority of patients seen at The Princess Margaret Hospital and the Hillmorton campus.
“These current facilities are old, inadequate, cramped and do not reflect our modern way of care nor do they support or reflect the excellent work of our dedicated mental health workforce. Māia is thrilled to join with the DHB to create the modern, fit for purpose CAF outpatient facility that our community desperately needs. Confirmation of the location of this new facility is a significant step forwards to bringing this project to life.”
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