Mental health and addictions campus planning begins

Investing in infrastructure -

One of the world’s leading planning and design firms will soon begin the planning process for a new mental health and addictions campus on Prince Edward Island.

CannonDesign Ltd. has been awarded a contract following government’s tender process. In partnership with Architecture49, CannonDesign Ltd. will soon begin the year-long master programming and planning for the campus that will replace Hillsborough Hospital.

Government is investing approximately $500,000 over the next two fiscal years for this work through Health PEI’s capital budget. In addition – as part of its 2018-19 capital budget released last week – government set aside $55 million over the next five years for initial infrastructure development. A more detailed infrastructure plan and budget for the entire project will follow as part of the master programming and planning.

“The mental health and addiction landscape is changing, demand is increasing, and needs are becoming more complex,” Health and Wellness Minister Robert Henderson said. “We also understand the toll that mental illness and addictions takes on an individual and their family. To ensure that we can respond to the needs of Islanders and their families well into the future, our planning must consider current trends and best practices in mental health and addictions care and include input from those on the front line.”

As part of the master programming and planning process, consultations will take place with key partners throughout the health system along with government departments, the community, and patients and their families.

• Master programming will detail and articulate future mental and addictions programs and services; identify best practice service trends, opportunities and challenges; describe key health, service and administrative processes; and outline human resources required to provide defined programs and services. Once the master program is complete, the master planning process will commence.
   
• Master planning will outline potential capital and infrastructure options to meet the program’s service definitions for the redevelopment of the Hillsborough Hospital site and provide a proposed configuration of how a future mental health and addictions campus of services could be developed to meet the province’s needs.

“This is more than just designing a new hospital; we need to plan out the program needs, the human resource requirements, and what infrastructure would be best suited to care for Islanders faced with mental health and addiction issues,” said Verna Ryan, Health PEI’s chief administrative officer for mental health and addictions. “Moving forward, we will be able to address the growing demand for complex mental health cases, forensic psychiatry, in-patient youth mental health care, transitional support for individuals moving back into community following in-patient stays, along with other emerging areas of mental health and addictions care.

"Patients will benefit from a modern environment that meets current care and safety standards, but more importantly, one that is designed specifically to support their healing and well-being,” she said.

“Health PEI is taking bold steps to address the needs of those most vulnerable in our society and in need of specialized care – those affected with mental illness,” said Tim Rommel, principal for CannonDesign Ltd. “This is an opportunity to help define the changing face of mental health and addictions care across Prince Edward Island and be an example of what the future of mental health and addictions care can look like across Canada and beyond. Our entire design team is excited to be part of this important initiative and we look forward to working with Health PEI in developing a master program and plan for a new mental health and addictions campus that will be a provincial resource for the delivery services and care.”

For more information about mental health and addictions services on Prince Edward Island, visit www.healthpei.ca/mentalhealthandaddictions.

Media contact:
Amanda Hamel
ajhamel@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

Health PEI issued a request for proposal (RFP) for consultant services for the development of a master program and master plan for a new Mental Health and Addictions Campus.

Three proposals were received.  The proposals were evaluated by a five-member group representing Health PEI, Mental Health and Addictions, as well as Transportation, Infrastructure & Energy.

About Cannon Design
CannonDesign Ltd. designs solutions that optimize performance, deliver value, and prepare health care organizations for the future. Over the years, CannonDesign Ltd. has calibrated its practice to respond to the health care industry’s emerging realities — evolving from a traditional architecture and engineering firm into a comprehensive practice leveraging design thinking to advance next-generation health care strategy, operations, workforce models, consumer experiences and facility solutions. The firm’s team of architects, engineers, practicing clinicians, experiential designers, analysts, planners, and health care executives partner with clients to not only explore new futures, but design and build the solutions that let them to unfold.

CannonDesign Ltd. has completed a vast number of large scale, complex, health care projects in Canada, including mental health projects such as the new Waypoint Centre for Mental Health in Penetanguishene, Ontario, the new St. Joseph’s Health Care (mental health hospital) in Hamilton, Ontario, the award-winning Centre for Addictions & Mental Health in Toronto, and a new Master Program for the IWK in Halifax.

For more information about CannonDesign Ltd., visit www.cannondesign.com.
 
About Architecture49
Architecture49 is a national leader in the integrated design and delivery of some of Canada’s most important buildings and environments. The firm’s health care practice is a leader in the planning, design and delivery of diagnostic treatment and critical care environments for the Canadian health care sector. With offices coast to coast across Canada, Architecture49 boasts a history spanning over half a century of profoundly significant contributions. The firm’s approach is based on the belief that built environment can be an integral part of the healing process and will have a major impact on patient health outcomes and staff satisfaction. Architecture49 seeks to incorporate evidence-based design research into its solutions which support medical advancement and patient care.

Architecture49 has been involved with numerous health care infrastructure projects including the new Garron Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental in Halifax, Nova Scotia (done in collaboration with CannonDesign Ltd.), the Colchester East Hants Health Centre in Truro, Nova Scotia, the new Health Sciences Centre Diagnostic Imaging Building and the new Women and Newborn Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Medicity health care facility in Gurgan, New Delhi.

For more information about Architecture49 visit architecture49.com.
 
About Hillsborough Hospital
Hillsborough Hospital, the provincial psychiatric hospital, includes sections ranging from 30 to 90 years of age. The hospital operates 69 psychiatric beds and provides specialized care, long-term treatment and rehabilitation for individuals facing acute or enduring mental illness, cognitive disabilities, or psycho-geriatric conditions.