Addiction treatment facility for youth planned for P.E.I.
Facility would offer 24/7 care for up to 6 months or longer
Health PEI is considering establishing a residential treatment facility for youth with addictions, but the chief mental health and addictions officer says an overall plan for all addictions and mental health issues is a long way from ready.
Dr. Rhonda Matters told the legislature's health committee Thursday a long term strategy likely won't be complete until next summer. Matters, who was appointed in November, said she is still talking with people about the current state of the system.
"What are our gaps? What are we providing?" she said.
"We need to consult with all the people that are involved, so we want to make sure we do this thoroughly, correctly. And there are so many people involved in that. That's going to take much longer than six months."
Matters presented three initial recommendations, including improving services for children and adolescents, both in-patient and in the community, and an expansion of the existing Strength program for young people with addictions.
While Matters is still putting the strategy together, Health PEI is already looking into the costs and options for providing some new services for addicted youth. CEO Dr. Richard Wedge said the agency is looking at potential locations for a residential youth facility that would offer 24/7 care.
"We're looking at a number of options for different sites that are available, currently owned by government or currently owned by Health PEI, that could be re-purposed," said Wedge.
An addicted youth could spend as much as six months at such a facility. Building it would cost about $1 million.
Health PEI is also considering increasing in-patient beds for adolescents with mental health issues. Right now there are four at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. Wedge said that could increase to as many 12 beds and they might be moved to a different location. Those beds would also come with a capital cost of about $1 million.
'It's not an announcement'
Opposition health critic James Aylward said he was appalled Matters' recommendations didn't have more substance. He said things are moving too slowly.
"I have absolutely no faith with what's happening on this file right now and the minister needs to answer for this," said Aylward.
"It's not an announcement; it's options they're working on. So until the government actually comes out and puts the meat on the bone and actually makes an announcement I can't say too much about it. If it happens I will be very happy."
Wedge told the committee Health PEI plans to bring its proposal for the 24/7 residential addictions facility to the Department of Health shortly.