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Fiji’s Health ministry plans to build a new psychiatric facility, it has been confirmed.
Although no date has been confirmed, there are plans in the meantime to carry out renovations and maintenance to the current structure.
This was revealed by St Giles Hospital Acting superintendent Dr Odille Chang.
According to Dr Chang, the ministry has identified mental health as a priority.
“’Improving Mental Health care’ is one of its (ministry’s) health outcome indicators in its annual corporate plan and multi-year strategic plan.
Dr Chang said while there is a shortage of nursing and medical staff throughout the country, there has been efforts to recruit staff especially medical officers from abroad.
She said St Giles is also looking at Australian Volunteers and Pacific Counselling and social services to provide them with allied mental health workers such as counsellors, social workers, psychologist and occupational therapist.
Dr Chang says the youngest patients currently admitted at St Giles are two 23-year-olds, a male and a female.
“The oldest patient right now is a 70-year-old.
“We currently have 111 patients compared to 110 for the same period last year.”
Also, Dr Chang said most cases admitted are those of a ‘mood disorder’.
She added that about a third of their patients are “permanent residents” in the sense that they have no family to take care of them.
