P.E.I. eyes changes for Hillsborough Hospital, 'better way' for psychiatric care

P.E.I.'s 10 yearstrategy on mental health and addictions doesn't contain a lot of detailon the future of Hillsborough Hospital but government is hinting changes may be coming.

• New P.E.I. mental health and addictions strategy promises improved services

The 69-bed psychiatric hospital has been under the microscope for several years. The new strategy devotes a couple of lines to thehospital under the category of access to care.

"There is a need to replace Hillsborough Hospital and/or determine a better way to provide psychiatric services in existing facilities," reads the strategy document.

Announcement expected 'in the near future'

"I'm confident there will be some discussion and a possibleannouncement in the near future," saidRobert Henderson, minister of health and wellness.

"Obviously there are plans for some rejuvenation of the structure. That's been in the capitalbudget for some time," he said.

A capital budget amount of $5 million has been set aside since 2014 for the hospital. In the past government said it would begin planning for a new hospital in 2019. Despite that, Hendersonwouldn't put a specific date on plans.

"We are working on it within my department," he said.

Opposition calls for replacement

In the past an auditor general's report looked at the facility, a coroner's inquest containedrecommendations for the hospital and government reports havetalked about the need to update the facility or even replace it.

"It's a pretty well known fact that the HillsboroughHospital has outlived it's usefulness," said James Aylward, health critic for the Opposition.

"I was hoping to hear there was going to be replacement plans for the Hillsborough Hospital."

Aylward said he knows patients currently staying long term at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in need of specialized mental health services.

"They need to be in a proper facility," he said.

Accreditation review coming

Henderson pointedout the facility does go through an accreditation process to evaluate it in accordance to national standards.

"It isn't always about the particular structure, there's issues around transitioning people out of that structure into society, some of those investments are things we're continuing to work on."said Henderson.

The accreditation review will happen again in about a year.

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