Riverview Hospital has been a strong point of contention for decades; however, a decision was made today to reopen the facility.
The incumbent NDP government announced on Friday, November 17th that the facility will reopen its doors in 2019.
The news comes after the mayor of Coquitlam released a teary statement over Facebook calling for the revival of the institution. Mayor Richard Stewart had just attended the funeral of a young man when he wrote the statement. The young man lost his life to addiction after a losing battle with his mental health issues.
“People afflicted by mental illness and addiction need better support and care. We’re getting to work to fix the problems and give people the help they need,” Premier Horgan said. “Today’s ground breaking is an important step toward improving mental health and addictions treatment services in British Columbia.”
Today’s ground breaking on the new state-of-the-art Centre for Mental Health and Addiction in #Coquitlam is an important step towards making sure people struggling with mental illness and addiction are able to get the help they need fast. https://t.co/M5UK54kC9q pic.twitter.com/UKBNncmdL8
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) November 17, 2017
Riverview Health Care Centre To Open in 2019
The new centre will cost an impressive $100 million to construct. Also, it will have 101 beds and offer highly specialized treatment. It promises to be a “state-of-the-art metal health and addictions centre,” which will provide patients with much needed care and support.
A release from the Government of Canada provides some interesting facts about the new facility.
- The centre will care for the most severe and complex patients from throughout B.C. As a provincial service, it will use telehealth technology to support team-based approaches to care and create improved communication between health-care providers wherever they are in the province, to better care for each patient.
- It will feature individual rooms and therapeutic design elements to support recovery, such as healing spaces, natural light, Indigenous artwork and views of the Riverview lands. What’s more, patients will receive care in a safe, secure and inviting environment. They are designed to offer the right supports at a time when their illness is most acute.
- It will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards.
- It is one of two projects that will create a health district at the north end of the Riverview site, including Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre for youth and Community Living British Columbia’s Provincial Assessment Centre, both also under construction.
