Hawke's Bay is set to receive its long-awaited $22m mental health facility, hoped to make a significant difference for the region's mental health services.
Health Minister Tony Ryall yesterday announced the approval for the project which will cost up to $22 million and replace the ageing existing facility.
"The current mental health facilities in Hawke's Bay are challenging, and while staff have done an extraordinary job in such a constrained environment, an upgrade is overdue."
The Government will contribute $5 million directly towards the rebuild, with the remaining budget raised by the Hawke's Bay Health Board. Work is expected to begin on the site in the next financial year.
The new unit will replace the existing acute mental health inpatient, and transition and rehabilitation care units at Hawke's Bay Hospital, forming the one unit.