The PSA is launching a petition today in partnership with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists in support of continued funding for a specialist mental health facility serving patients with complex needs.

Rauaroha - Segar House received notice in May that Te Whatu Ora is considering its disestablishment, 50 years after it was first opened in Auckland.

Designed expressly to meet complex needs, the care at Segar House is multi-disciplinary, with a psychiatrist, psychologists, psychotherapists and an art therapist on staff.

"We’re devastated, gutted really, that the Government is looking at cutting Segar House," an anonymous clinician who works at the centre said.

"The people we work with have highly complex health histories, with more than one diagnosed issue, as well as horrific early trauma. They can only come to us when they’ve already exhausted all other options - we are the last in the line for them.

"Without us, frankly, we’d already have lost these clients to suicide."

The wrap-around service provided by Segar House puts an emphasis on relationships and group social interactions to build confidence and ensure graduating clients can live full, social lives in the community.

The proposal put forward by Te Toka Tumai, the Central Auckland arm of Te Whatu Ora, argued that the service was under-utilised, and that its resources were better used elsewhere.

Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the under-utilisation was down to overly restrictive referring rules that meant clients had to exhaust every other option for care, even if their condition otherwise met criteria.

"The clinicians who work at Segar House are in the unusual position for New Zealand in that they’d like to care for more patients, not less.

"After continued pressure from staff, the centre ran a trial last year where they dropped certain referral rules, and unsurprisingly, received more clients who were a good fit for their service.

"The under-utilisation of Segar House has been entirely created by Te Toka Tumai, who have then turned around and blamed the facility for it.

"Cutting this highly specialist, completely unique service that has helped so many people makes zero sense. Surely the answer here would be to retain the service and change the referral rules, rather than cut it altogether.

https://www.together.org.nz/save_rauaroha_segar_house_psychotherapy_service

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