Simcoe invests $164K in Newmarket’s Southlake hospital mental health unit

Investment is part of Simcoe’s $45M commitment to hospital alliance

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 11, 2020
Laura Broadley

The County of Simcoe is making a sizable investment in Southlake Regional Health Centre’s new emergent mental health assessment unit.

Warden George Cornell announced that the county would be investing almost $164,000 in the construction of the unit as part of the county’s $45-million, 15-year commitment to the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance, which includes seven hospitals that care for Simcoe residents. The county is investing $2.7 million in Southlake.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increasing demand on hospital care, front-line medical services and essential health-care workers,” Cornell said in a statement. “We are pleased to provide this investment of almost $164,000 toward Southlake Regional Health Centre’s new Mental Health Assessment Unit to address a high number of hospital visits relating to mental health.”

The money went toward renovations at Southlake Regional Health Centre, which was designed in consultation with patients, families and staff.

The new 2,500-square-foot unit is equipped with six single-occupancy assessment rooms, each with a window and television, along with an interview room, common area for patients and a nursing station with visibility to the rest of the unit.

The unit is meant for short-term emergent care for some of the patients who are seen by crisis workers and/or psychiatrists in Southlake’s emergency department.

“The County of Simcoe’s continued investment in Southlake shows a commitment to improving health-care services for residents and creating a healthier community overall. This latest investment supports a more patient-centric and healing environment for those seeking urgent mental health care at Southlake,” Arden Krystal, Southlake’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

A third of Ontario’s group homes are in York Region, eight within walking distance of the hospital, and Southlake sees a disproportionately high number of Ontarians seeking mental health care.

The total renovation project cost is $3.12 million and is part of Southlake’s $15-million mental health redevelopment, which will add a 12-bed adult in-patient unit and renovated outpatient clinic space.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds most of the hospital’s operational costs, but it does not cover all the costs of renovations or equipment costs. Southlake relies on the community through donations and investments.