Released on March 8, 2019
Patients and offenders living with mental health issues now have access to enhanced facilities and programming at the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford (SHNB). The Government of Saskatchewan’s $407 million investment replaces a century-old psychiatric care facility and two correctional facilities.
“The grand opening of the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford represents the single largest investment in mental health services in the history of our province,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Our government is committed to providing better, more efficient mental health services for Saskatchewan residents, and the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford will ensure patients in Saskatchewan receive the care they need, when they need it.”
The new SHNB includes 188 psychiatric rehabilitation beds and a separate secure wing with 96 beds for offenders living with mental health issues, a total of 284 beds. This includes 32 more psychiatric rehabilitation beds than the old SHNB so that patients in need of care can receive it as quickly as possible. All patients from the old SHNB have been relocated and settled in to the new facility.
“The new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford is among the most advanced mental health treatment centres in all of Canada,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “Its patient-focused design includes private rooms that are more spacious, natural lighting throughout the facility, and other features that make it an overall more therapeutic environment for patients in their journey through healing.”
The project is a multi-ministry partnership between the Ministries of Health, Corrections and Policing and Central Services, along with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and SaskBuilds, to address mental health needs in the province in accordance with Saskatchewan’s 10-year Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan.
“The Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford offers an opportunity for our government to provide enhanced programming to offenders with mental health needs,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said. “This facility will allow us to better address the needs of offenders in a therapeutic environment, and will allow for improved assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for offenders living with mental health challenges.”
“The care and treatment delivered at the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford builds on the best practices of the past and has the potential to develop innovative strategies for best practices in mental health care and treatment into the future,” Saskatchewan Health Authority COO Suann Laurent said. “The opportunities for success are immense.”
The Government of Saskatchewan’s $407 million investment includes construction and maintenance costs to keep the facility in like-new condition for 30 years under a Public-Private Partnership (P3) agreement. The P3 model selected ensures that the facility is delivered on budget, with total project cost savings estimated at $90 million compared to a traditional method of procurement. The P3 also protects the public from risks, cost overruns and time delays that are the responsibility of the private sector partner, as per the agreement.
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For more information, contact:
Shelley Svedahl
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: shelley.svedahl@health.gov.sk.ca
Noel Busse
Corrections and Policing
Regina
306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca
Jim Billington
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: jim.billington@gov.sk.ca