10. Question No. 10—HealthJAMIE STRANGE (Labour) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 10—Health10. JAMIE STRANGE (Labour) to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about mental health facilities in Waikato?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Improving and maintaining New Zealanders' mental health and wellbeing is one of the long-term challenges that this Government is taking seriously. Having the right facilities to support people's treatment and recovery is a key part of our plan. That's why I was pleased to have joined the Prime Minister in Hamilton last week to announce that the Government has approved $100 million in funding for a new acute mental health facility which will provide better care and support to people with mental health and addiction issues. This announcement gives Waikato DHB the certainty to push ahead with the required planning and development to ensure this facility is constructed and completed in a timely fashion.Jamie Strange: Why do the New Zealanders cared for by Waikato DHB need this new facility?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The current Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre is no longer fit for purpose. It's outdated and does not provide the right environment to support a focus on recovery and mental wellbeing for patients despite hard work by dedicated staff. A new purpose-built facility will provide a modern environment with patient- and whānau-centred spaces. In addition over the last nine years there's been a 72 percent increase in people seen by Waikato DHB's mental health and addiction services. Each month there are nearly 100 admissions to the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre which has 53 beds. The new facility is expected to have a capacity for an extra 10 to 20 more beds and that will make a real difference.Jamie Strange: How does this announcement fit with the Government's plan for fixing up our health infrastructure?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: This Government is committed to strengthening our public health services and rebuilding our hospitals. Since Budget 2018 funding has been confirmed for projects up and down New Zealand including the redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital including a new east wing to house a range of critical and acute services; a new elective surgery unit at North Shore Hospital; $80 million for four projects at Counties Manukau including recladding of the Kidz First building; a new in-patient mental health and addiction unit at Hauora Tairāwhiti Gisborne Hospital; new specialist mental health facilities at Canterbury DHB's Hillmorton campus; $275 million for Auckland DHB to address significant infrastructure challenges; $45 million for the new Wellington Children's Hospital; $30 million for a new integrated stroke unit at Auckland DHB; $24 million for new endoscopy and cardiac care capacity at Northland DHB's Whangarei Hospital; and a new Buller Hospital integrated family unit. In addition I'm delighted to report the good progress that's been made on the Dunedin Hospital rebuild project and Budget 2019 included a ring-fenced contingency to fund the work. We've set aside $2.45 billion in our first two Budgets for investments in hospitals—twice as much as the previous Government invested in nine long years.