The Ministry of Health is set to build a new facility at St Giles Psychiatric Hospital to enhance mental health services. During a presentation on the hospital’s renovation in Parliament on Thursday, Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalavabalavu announced that the facility would offer specialized services, including addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and telepsychiatry.
Dr. Lalavabalavu noted that the ministry is seeking support from partners and donor organizations to aid in the establishment of the new facility, which aims to implement the latest treatment methods and improve mental health services nationwide. The planned facility will also expand into areas such as old-age psychiatry and provide specialized services like group therapy, psychodrama, lithium level testing, recurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
In addition to these plans, Dr. Lalavabalavu mentioned that earlier this year, a new fence was constructed behind the men’s ward to enhance security at the admission facility. Recent renovations to the women’s ward, Moala ward, and the administration building have been completed and are now in use.
Significant improvements also included the tar sealing of roads and renovations to the hospital’s parking area, with costs exceeding $235,000. Dr. Lalavabalavu emphasized that the previous state of the roads had caused discomfort for patients and damage to vehicles, affecting both staff and visitors.
Looking ahead, he confirmed that for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the ministry has been allocated additional funding for further repair and renovation efforts at the hospital.