“This will bring 51 new, additional mental health beds to the Cowichan Valley and provide access to services that have not been available to Central Vancouver Island previously,” said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon. “With $8.5 million in capital funding and $7 million for annual operating funding, this represents a significant investment in psychiatric services and health care jobs for Duncan area residents.”
The redeveloped Cowichan Lodge will have a total of 51 tertiary psychiatric care beds. Twenty-four beds will serve seniors over the age of 75 who suffer from cognitive and behavioral challenges and 27 beds will serve adults between the ages of 19 and 65. The facility will provide medically-supervised treatment for those with severe mental disorders who have not responded to acute (i.e. hospital) care. Admissions will be prioritized for area residents and will be based on referrals from physicians which are reviewed by an admissions committee. The average patient stay is expected to be 1-2 years, with some clients remaining even longer. The facility will be owned and operated directly by the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
“The facility will employ approximately 60 physicians, nurses, rehabilitation workers and other care providers, delivering an economic boost to the Cowichan Valley,” said Jac Kreut, VIHA Board Chair. “VIHA acknowledges the closure of Cowichan Lodge has been difficult for the community, and we thank the Cowichan Communities Health Network Planning Group which worked extensively to develop a new service model for the site that would meet the needs of local psychiatric clients, their families, as well as immediate neighbours and the broader community.”
The redevelopment project is part of the Provincial initiative to devolve the 1930’s-era Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam and repatriate the beds and associated funding to local communities. In addition to the redevelopment of Cowichan Lodge, VIHA’s Board also approved Riverview redevelopment funds for eight new psychiatric intensive care beds at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) and for capital improvements to Seven Oaks – a VIHA operated tertiary mental health facility in Saanich.
“Access to local quality health services, and mental health services in particular, is a priority,” said Rob Hutchins, Co-Chair, Cowichan Communities Health Network. “When the new mental health facility opens on the Cowichan Lodge site in 2013, Central Island residents suffering from challenging mental health issues will no longer have to travel to Victoria or Vancouver for care – they will get the care they need close to family and friends.”
In the Fall of 2009 and Spring of 2010, the Cowichan Communities Health Network Planning Group – made up of representatives from local government, community service providers, First Nations and other interested stakeholders – undertook a process to examine potential future uses for the Lodge. As part of this, four open community meetings were held, and VIHA’s proposal for a psychiatric facility on the Cowichan Lodge site was presented to the Network for consideration earlier this Spring.
The meetings also provided an opportunity for VIHA to answer questions and address concerns from area residents. As part of the $8.5 million in capital upgrades, higher fencing will be built around the site, an earth berm and plantings will be added on the Maple Bay Road border and the site will have a security presence during school days. Local residents will have 24/7 direct access to facility staff and a Community Advisory Committee and Good Neighbour Agreement will be in place.
In addition, VIHA is committed to adding other services to the Cowichan Lodge site, including outreach services for the local area once the tertiary services are in place.
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VIHA Media Contact:
Anya Nimmon, VIHA Communications
250-740-6980
Other Contact:
Rob Hutchins, Chair, CCHNPG & Mayor, Ladysmith
250-245-6403