After construction delays, the transfer of 15 mental health beds to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) is now being planned for January, 2014, with related ambulatory services moving in December 2013. Construction at the STEGH facility led to transfer of the 15 acute care beds to Regional Mental Health Care London while ambulatory services were relocated within the City of St. Thomas. The transfer to STEGH this fall will be the fourth and final transfer. The transfer has also involved collaboration and planning among community partners including the Elgin-St. Thomas Emergency Management Service, the three police services, and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Elgin Branch.
The final phases of divestment will be completed in June 2014 when 156 longer-term mental health beds are relocated to a new regional facility on the St. Joseph’s London Parkwood Site. The facility will serve Elgin, Oxford, Middlesex, Lambton, Huron Perth and Grey Bruce.
Currently, longer-stay (stays greater than 365 days) individuals are placed in community settings. As of January 31, 2013, 80 long-stay individuals had been discharged to community facilities that had capacity to accommodate client needs, which has resulted in the permanent closure of 43 beds, with the goal that 70 beds will be closed by Fall 2014.
For more information, visit the: Southwest LHIN website.