Southlake Regional Health Centre's new adult inpatient mental health unit opened to patients for the first time this week after years of fundraising and construction.
The unit will add 12 beds to the Newmarket hospital’s capacity, expanding to 36 beds in total, which will allow Southlake to serve about 400 more people individually, for a total of 2,000 mental health patients annually.
NewmarketToday took a behind-the-scenes look at the new facility and its many features, including private interview rooms, open activity and dining spaces, complete monitoring and built-in safety features.
Southlake manager of mental health outpatients Aga Dojczewska said it feels great to reach this point.
“We were all waiting for this day. It took this many years to get here,” she said. “Our community was incredibly involved to help us get to this point. This is an amazing space.”
The provincial government funded the new unit with $6.5 million, while Southlake Foundation's Better Begins Today campaign launched in October 2020 to raise $7.5 million for the adult inpatient unit, the emergent mental health assessment unit and other site improvements toward mental health care at Southlake.
The hospital announced Tuesday, Feb. 28 that Michael Croxon, CEO of the NewRoads Automotive Group and member of Southlake’s philanthropy cabinet, committed an additional $500,000 to bring the campaign to a successful close.
Construction of the new unit has taken palace over the last year-and-a-half, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place Feb. 13. Contractors have been making the finishing touches to the unit, with the first patients on Feb. 28.
Patient safety and security are built into the new facility. Cameras monitor the unit at all times. The doors are designed to ensure staff have easy access and prevent patients from barricading. Windows are reinforced and chairs in the central area are heavy, filled with sand to prevent patients from throwing them.
"The way the space is designed and constructed is very different,” Southlake director of capital development Nathan Robinson said, adding that the walls are also impact and moisture resistant. “Lots going on behind the walls as well to make sure it promotes a safe environment for both the patients and the staff.”
Common areas are designed with brightness in mind, Southlake staff said. An activity room and lounge area have televisions. The dining area features enough space for activities such as exercise.
The activity room allows patients to work together as a group to learn, plus do creative ventures like art. Dojczewska said it is her favourite feature of the new unit.
“This is an incredible open space. This is where people will be connecting,” she said. “They like coming in. There’s sunshine and there is light that’s flowing into the hallway, so they can enjoy the sunshine.”
Other features include private interview rooms and a washroom inside each inpatient room. Part of the unit can also be split off and secured in case of outbreak situations.
The new unit was needed with how many in Newmarket needed mental health service, Dojczewska said.
“It’s a daily struggle. We do see a lot of patients coming to our department every day,” she said, adding that it was impacting other departments. “This will definitely help us with providing the services that are needed.”
There was some disruption with the construction process, she added, but those in the hospital were very patient with the delay. She added that construction moved fast once it got underway.
“It’s an incredible addition,” she said. “We will again be able to move patients faster from the emergency department to an area that is appropriate, and safe.
"Thank you to our community for supporting us, she added.
