There have been quite a few references in your column lately to funding for Banksia, the Acute Mental Health Unit for New England/North West. As a member of the Support group which collected the 13,200 signatures for Tanya Davies, the NSW Minister for Mental Health, I admit to thinking that the petition might end up with only another renovation. Now I can say that I am personally reassured that the upgrade to Banksia is being planned in a way that has every chance of success – via process not politics. It will be a process that takes into account the needs of the whole area and will look at units world- wide to make sure the design is right for everybody.
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That some immediate improvements are necessary for Banksia is borne out by the $365,000 grant announced by Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson (NDL Tuesday 23.10.18). However, as that article went on to say “The minister said planning was under way for the redevelopment, with the build being co-designed by advocacy groups and Hunter New England Health.”
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Our group is delighted to have been offered a seat at the Planning table to “co-design” the new Mental Health Unit. That will have to be a careful, creative and proper process. It will take time, hence the need for an interim refurbishment of the present unit.
It has been very encouraging to see the whole- hearted support from the community and your newspaper for this upgrade. Our group also thanks Kevin Anderson and Hunter New England Health
management for propelling the shared vision to the next stage. There is a sense of great unanimity about the job to be done.
Joan Wakeford,
Tamworth
