FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2005
Bed closures create new service gap as old one is filled
While filling an important gap in the community, Kingston’s Providence Continuing Care Centre Mental Health Services may be creating a new one back at the former Kingston Psychiatric Hospital with the closure of 22 mental health beds beginning this month.
“Providence may be a bit too optimistic in thinking that the demand for these beds will be offset by the introduction of a Community Treatment Team later this spring,” says Leah Casselman, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). “With a traditionally high occupancy rate, we are concerned that
chronic mental health patients may be denied beds in favour of a treatment system that may not be fully in place or have adequate and appropriate resources to service them.”
Providence is immediately closing 11 of 220 beds, with a further 11 to go as chronic patients vacate them.
Casselman says the fact that they don’t have enough present vacancies to implement their 10 per cent cut underlines the union’s concern.
While there is concern over the bed closures, the union is pleased that the hospital is choosing to directly administer and staff the new high intensity Community Treatment Team that will service the Kingston area.
“It makes sense that experienced personnel are being taken from Providence to implement this project,” she says. “We urge the employer to make a long-term commitment to those who will be staffing the Community Treatment Team. This shouldn’t be the first step in contracting out these jobs.”
No layoffs are associated with the announced bed closures at the hospital.
OPSEU represents about 570 professional and support workers at Providence Continuing Care Mental Health Services.
-30-
For more information
Rick Janson, OPSEU Communications, at 1-800-268-7376 ext 8207.
