Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) officially opened its new mental health unit at St. Mary's Hospital this week.The ward has been operating since mid-July, providing specialized care to 35 patients in that time, who stayed an average of 10 days.
"We really are trying to get people back on their feet," said Paul Charron, the Coast's director of adult mental health and addictions for VCH, during a tour.
Having the six-bed unit for psychiatric patients means they can get care and support close to home rather than travelling to the Lower Mainland. It also means more beds are available on the first floor for medical patients, Charron said. Referrals come from physicians or from the emergency ward. Emergency personnel call up to the unit, and a crisis team then meets with patients before admitting them.
"We can only look forward to better care for mental health and addictions clients," Charron said.
The unit has a team of 23 staff, mostly nurses and licensed practical nurses, plus a social worker, recreational therapist and occupational therapist, working together with other VCH programs.
"We all believe in this notion of a continuum of care," said Ida Goodreau, VCH president and CEO, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The people who participated in creating the unit were invited to the opening, including staff from mental health teams, the Ministry of Children and Family Development and mental health clients.
"It's one of many steps we need to embark on as we move forward," Goodreau said.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Hospital District gave $400,000 towards the $1.2 million capital costs, while VCH paid the remainder. VCH will cover the $1 million annual operating costs.
Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk was at the opening on behalf of the Regional Hospital District. This is the first time the district has funded a psychiatric unit, he said. The district realized the need for it, so approved it when VCH approached it for funding.
"Because we understand the community, we said we have to do this," Janyk said.
The wing on the second floor has two single rooms, two double rooms, a shower room, a telephone station, a nurse's station, a lounge, a crisis consultation office and a locked seclusion room. The double rooms were put in because of space and also to provide company to those who want it, Charron said. The seclusion room is used only when patients are a danger to themselves or others. Patients have a stairwell leading directly outside, without having to walk through the rest of the hospital.
The unit was designed with future expansion in mind so the space won't need to be rebuilt.
