92 | COMMUNITY Hillmorton Hospital Hospital’s new facilities on track Kim Newth Protecting patient privacy and dignity has been a key consideration in the design of the new rehabilitation unit. Construction is in full swing at Hillmorton Hospital to deliver two new facilities for specialist mental health services that are relocating from Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), with the new units expected to open in late 2022. Leighs Construction is leading the $81.8 million project to construct the new 16-bed unit that will provide a range of acute treatment options including long term and intensive rehabilitation and the new 29-bed building for mothers and babies, treatment of eating disorders and child, adolescent and family inpatient care. As part of the project, the campus energy centre is also being extended. After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, older people’s health services at PMH were moved to Burwood Hospital but specialist mental health services were left stranded within a very old hospital complex that was no longer fit for purpose. The new units taking shape at Hillmorton Hospital represent an exciting new chapter for these specialist services in Ōtautahi Christchurch. “Compared to what we’ve had at PMH, these modern purpose built facilities will be a quantum shift in therapeutic environment,” says Greg Hamilton, Canterbury DHB’s General Manager of Specialist Mental Health Services. “The construction activity is now very visible and you can really see everything taking shape on the ground. We’re running pretty much on time with only a few small delays due to Covid and associated supply matters. Overall, progress is very positive.” Once completed, patients can look forward to a warm welcome at the new mothers and babies, eating disorders and child, adolescent and family unit, where spaces have been designed to enhance family interaction and healing. The centre will house flexible inpatient beds for these services and community outpatient care for mothers and babies, and people with eating disorders. Offering a contemporary model of care, the unit will include centralised courtyards, single rooms and flexible spaces of world class standard. Protecting patient privacy and dignity has been a key consideration in the design of the new rehabilitation unit which will also include a range of thoughtfully laid out spaces for whānau and staff. The unit will feel light and homely, with good connections to outdoor spaces and courtyards. In February 2021, the project design received a four Green Star Award from the New Zealand Green Building Council, in recognition of its high sustainability and energy efficiency standards. “This is where all new government buildings are headed but it is exciting to be one of the first new capital projects to achieve this four Green Star rating.” Meanwhile, a Ministry of Health assessment report on the current state of DHB assets, published in 2020, rated a number of units at Hillmorton Hospital as being in poor condition. Hillmorton Hospital is one of the oldest mental health facilities in the country, but a major transformation is now in the planning phase. Projected to be delivered in a sequenced roll-out over the next 10-15 years, the masterplan’s vision is to create new multi-functional buildings within a surrounding green space. “Part of the masterplanning for the campus is to make sure we maintain as much green space as possible as this has therapeutic value “This is where all new government buildings are headed but it is exciting to be one of the first new capital projects to achieve this four Green Star rating.” to consumers and have well-laid out services for different functions provided in clearly defined zones… “We’re currently working with the Ministry of Health to develop our business case for phase one of that masterplan and expect to submit that in the first quarter of 2022.” The Government announced a $1.9 billion mental health package in Budget 2019, with $235 million set aside for building mental health and addiction facilities. As Greg observes, planning for new facilities does take time and getting it right is imperative to achieving a good end result out of the funding committed. “We need to make sure our planning balances current service needs with future proofing for future growth.” Award-winning architectural practice. Transforming lives for the better, one building at a time klein.co.nz | info@klein.co.nz | 09 377 7005
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