HAMILTON — As part of its plan to build a stronger, more resilient health care system that is better prepared to respond to crisis, the Ontario government is investing over $5 million to redevelop St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s psychiatric emergency service. This funding will help double mental health and addictions emergency services at the hospital and ensure that patients and families in Hamilton and the surrounding region have access to high-quality care in a comfortable and compassionate space.
“Our government is ensuring that all Ontarians are supported on their journey to wellness by building a stronger, more comprehensive mental health and addictions system,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Redeveloping St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s psychiatric emergency service will expand mental health services so people in crisis have access to the right level of care in a safe environment.”
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton provides emergency mental health services at its Charlton Campus to approximately 4,000 patients per year. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital has experienced a 33 per cent an increase in urgent psychiatric care referrals from 2019 to 2021.
To better address the growing needs of the communities the hospital serves, the space next to the current emergency mental health department will be redeveloped into two patient care areas. One area will be for patients experiencing more severe mental health and addictions crises who need to be cared for in a more specialised environment, and the other will be for those who would benefit from other medical care and mental health supports. The new patient care areas will be separated by a centralized staff and physician space, with separate entrances and new patient and family waiting rooms that will enable the hospital to provide high-quality emergency mental health and addictions care, while improving patient confidentiality and accessibility.
“Every person in Ontario deserves safe and secure access to the most appropriate mental health and addictions supports that meet their unique needs,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “This much-needed investment will help to enhance access to the critical treatment provided by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and builds on our commitment to develop accessible, high-quality mental health and addictions programs that fully support people and families, both now and in the future.”
Ontario is working with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton to finalize the early stages of the planning process, which includes identifying programming, operational and space requirements and assessing how the project can further help address existing gaps in mental health and addictions care.