The site of the former Grace Hospital will become the site of the new Downtown Health and Well-Being Centre.
The new centre will provide urgent care and primary care, including a family care team, for residents in the downtown St. John’s area. It will also provide outreach services to the Downtown Health Care Collaborative.
In addition, services will be provided for people with mental health and addictions challenges who do not require hospitalization, but need additional support before transitioning home, including people:
- With a mental health illness who require longer-term treatment than the service to be provided at the new Mental Health and Addictions Centre.
- With a mental illness, developmental disability, or acquired brain injury.
- In mental health distress who do not need to be in hospital but need a safe place where they can resolve their current issues.
Existing services, such as the Assertive Community Team (ACT) and Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Team, outpatient psychiatry clinics, day treatment program, Psychosis Intervention Early Recovery (PIER) Program; and services currently offered at the Recovery Centre in Pleasantville for people who are experiencing withdrawal from alcohol and substances will also be relocated to the new building.
Significant planning has taken place by the Northeast Avalon Health Care Infrastructure Advisory Committee, which has determined the site and services to be provided at the new facility. Planning is continuing over the coming months to confirm procurement and construction timelines.
Budget 2024 includes more than $14 million to expand options for people seeking help for mental health and addictions, and $30 million to hire additional health care providers for new and existing family care teams, including a new family care team in downtown St. John’s. Contracts valued at more than $2 million were also awarded earlier this year for two new urgent care centres for the metro region.
More details on the Provincial Government’s recent health care actions are available by visiting healthcareaction.ca. Details on recruitment of health care professionals are available by visiting workinhealthNL.ca.
Quotes
“The Health Accord NL recommendations are guiding us as we improve access to health care in all regions of the province. The new Downtown Health and Well-Being Centre will be a welcome addition for the community and complement our other family care teams, urgent care centres, and new Mental Health and Addictions Centre.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Following the successful demolition and abatement of the former Grace Hospital Nurses’ residence, we look forward to future use of the site. The new Downtown Health and Well-Being Centre will be a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will provide a much-needed service for residents in the community.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“NL Health Services is pleased with the Provincial Government’s announcement to create dedicated space to support our patients and clients who require these health care services. This facility will significantly enhance access to care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society and we aim to create an environment which fosters hope for all individuals who enter. We also envision that the facility will represent that hope and mental wellbeing are possible even in the presence of severe, long-term mental illness, developmental disability, brain injury or addiction.”
Ron Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of the Eastern-Urban Zone
NL Health Services
“The Gathering Place welcomes the Provincial Government’s initiative to develop a downtown health and wellness centre. This announcement brings hope and promise that the much-needed healthcare services will become more accessible to the guests served by The Gathering Place as well as others in the community. We look forward to collaborating with NLHS and the Department in providing the currently needed services for the underserved population.”
Paul Davis
Executive Director, The Gathering Place
“Choices for Youth is thrilled to see this investment in low-barrier mental health and primary care services. This centre will provide accessible healthcare services for at-risk families, contributing to better outcomes and reductions in emergency health interventions. We are pleased to see the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador making this important commitment to early intervention and prevention with critical services that will improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.” Geoff Davis
Board Chair and Interim Executive Director, Choices for Youth
-30-
2024 06 14
11:15 am
link