Health Minister Eddie Teare says a new Elderly Mentally Infirm Unit will go someway to coping with future need.
Tynwald has approved plans for the 32 bed facility to be built in Farmhill at a cost of ?4.2 million.
Beth Espey reports:
(Text of attached audio)
Mr Teare told Tynwald there were currently around 800 people on the Island suffering from dementia. He predicted that within ten years that figure would have risen to 900. The EMI unit would initially take 12 permanent patients, with four bedrooms dedicated to respite care.
He said it wasn't ideal to keep part of the facility closed, but explained that difficulties in finding a suitable site in Douglas made this the most suitable option in the long-term.
In response to comments from Rushen MHK Quintin Gill, Mr Teare (pictured) confirmed full use would still be made of services available at Southlands, and confirmed the way the central EMI unit would be run was not set in stone.
However he was unable to give a date for when the facility would be up and running.
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