Whitehorse hospital opens $33M mental health unit

The Whitehorse hospital says its new mental health unit is going to transform in-patient mental-health care.

The grand opening of the Fireweed mental health unit was on Monday. The new unit will provide in-patient care for a maximum of 30 days to people with a mental health diagnosis.

The renovation at the hospital took two years and cost nearly $33 million.

The new unit replaces the secure medical unit, which was widely criticized for lacking basic safety features and failing to provide staff with violence prevention training.

In her remarks at Monday's opening, health minister Tracy-Anne McPhee acknowledged that the secure medical unit — which was essentially eight rooms and a hallway — was not equipped to provide adequate care. 

"This new unit changes that," McPhee said.

The new wing is shaped like a horseshoe, spanning 10,000 square feet with a communal kitchen, private outdoor smoking area, and healing room. There are eight private bedrooms, with capacity to expand to 12 beds later. There are also three seclusion rooms, which contain only a toilet and bed, adjacent to an observation room.

"We know this unit won't solve every challenge, but it's a start," said Tiffany Boyd, Yukon Hospital Corporation CEO, at the grand opening.

The new unit will be fully operational by July. The eight beds in the former secure medical unit will go back to general in-patient medical and surgical use.

The Fireweed unit has new security features lacking in the secure medical unit, said Kirsten Wilson, clinical care manager at the hospital.

There are "code white" buttons on several walls for staff to signal when a patient is aggressive. Staff will also wear personal alarm systems. Most of the rooms have two exits and other lock-down features. 

Wilson said staff have also taken some additional online and in-person training in safety and de-escalation. The unit will be staffed by three nurses, a team lead and consultant psychiatrists.

Stephanie Ralph, executive director of patient care, said an overhaul of mental health care is on the way as well.