The Ministry of Health is set to create a new facility at the St Giles Psychiatric Hospital to enhance mental health services. Health Minister Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalavabalavu discussed the hospital’s renovation and upgrades in Parliament on Thursday, outlining that the new facility will offer specialized services such as addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and telepsychiatry.
He mentioned that the ministry is seeking support from partners and donor organizations to help establish this new facility, which aims to implement the latest treatment modalities and elevate mental health care in the country.
Furthermore, the proposed facility will enable the hospital to expand into areas such as addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry. It will also provide specialized services like group therapy, psychodrama, lithium level testing, recurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), commonly referred to as telepsychiatry.
Dr. Lalavabalavu noted that earlier this year, the ministry completed the construction of a new fence behind the men’s ward, enhancing the security of the admission facility. Recent renovations have also been completed for the women’s ward, Moala ward, and the administrative building.
Additionally, significant improvements were made to the hospital’s infrastructure, including the tar sealing of roads and renovations to the car park, costing over $235,000. Dr. Lalavabalavu pointed out that the previous condition of the roads had resulted in discomfort for passengers, vehicle damage, and challenges for staff working and living on the premises.
For the financial year 2024-2025, the ministry has also secured funding for further repair and renovation projects at the hospital.