April 21, 2006
SELKIRK—Detailed plans for the estimated $23-million new Selkirk Mental Health Centre mark the beginning of a new chapter in best practices in psychiatric and acquired brain injury rehabilitation in the province, Health Minister Tim Sale announced today.
“The redevelopment of the Selkirk Mental Health Centre will provide a state-of-the-art setting for patients and staff,” said Sale. “As well, it will provide for a new acquired brain injury program and enhanced psychiatric programs.”
“When this new facility is complete, Manitobans will have improved access to quality mental-health services in a modern environment,” said Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald. “The new and enhanced programs will play a significant role in a patient’s rehabilitation and recovery.”
Notable design elements include:
one ground-level building with a 30-bed acquired brain injury unit consisting of three pods of 10 beds and a 75-bed extended treatment and rehabilitation unit consisting of five pods of 15 beds;
a living room, quiet lounge and kitchen area, and access to an outdoor courtyard for each pod:
space for rehabilitation therapy that will include occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech language therapy;
multi-denominational and Aboriginal spiritual space; and,
a new central kitchen.
Once redevelopment is completed, the centre will provide program services that include:
a new acquired brain injury in-patient unit that provides active, long-term rehabilitation services to individuals with an acquired brain injury;
a five-bed transitional, community-based acquired brain injury residence that will be located in Selkirk;
a psycho-geriatric program that will provide specialized services to individuals aged 65 and older who are experiencing persistent psychiatric illness, dementia or progressive cognitive impairment;
a psycho-social rehabilitation program that will look at new ways of assisting individuals to return to the community sooner; and
the expansion of information and communications technology to assist with the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals and link the centre to existing and planned provincial health information systems.
Sale noted the redevelopment of the centre was one of three major projects identified as a priority when the current government took office in 1999.
“We committed to the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre and the Brandon Regional Health Centre as capital projects essential to the future of health care in this province,” said Sale. “We have kept all three promises.”
A construction manager has been retained to fast-track the construction process. The redevelopment of the centre is expected to be complete by 2008.
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