There is a “strong case” for the upgrade of Tamworth’s Banksia Unit, the Minister for Mental Health, Tanya Davies, has confirmed.
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It follows a relentless community campaign, which saw more than 13,000 people sign a petition calling for work to update the mental health unit at the hospital.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said this latest development is very welcome news.
“This is fantastic news for our community and a massive step forward in my campaign to build a better Banksia,” Mr Anderson said.
“My next step will be to lobby for planning money so that we can continue to move towards an improved facility for our community.”
This latest news comes just days after Mr Anderson publicly called for the results of a recent audit of the city’s mental health unit to be released. But, he said the fight for funding was just beginning.
“If we can move the project into the planning phase this will allow us to work with clinicians and experts to ensure Banksia meets the needs of a modern facility.”
The Tamworth Mental Health Carers’ Support Group has been a driving force behind the project. Their president Di Wyatt said she was pleased by the news, but hoped the upgrade would be an “entire rebuild” and not just a facelift.
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The group has been pounding the pavement to garner support for a better Banksia since early last year.
“I hope the upgrade is a new building and not just a fix up,” Mrs Wyatt told The Leader.
“We spoke to Mr Anderson the other day, and he’s all for a new facility, so we’ll see what happens.
“If they say they are just going to do a renovation, we’ll kick it up a notch. We have to have more than that.”
Mrs Wyatt said an upgrade to Banksia would benefit both patients and staff.
One medical professional has described the facility as “an embarrassment”, while patients and visitors have said the facility was “not an ideal environment for recovery”.
“We know that there is incredible work being done in our community to help support those with mental health issues, but when people are acutely unwell we need to ensure we can provide a quality facility to assist them in their recovery,” Mr Anderson said.
“I am proud to say we have the very best staff, now I want to see a facility to match.”
The project will now be considered for inclusion in the State-wide Mental Health Investment Strategy, which is being prepared for consideration by government.
