Work to begin on detoxification beds at Chinook Regional Hospital

Eight new detoxification beds will soon be built at Chinook Regional Hospital, marking a “good start” to the need in Lethbridge.

So says Brandy Payne, Alberta Associate Minister of Health, who toured the area Thursday afternoon. She said the expansion is part of the government’s work to support residents and families from the Lethbridge area affected by substance use and the opioid crisis.

“We’re really quite excited to add them here,” Payne said. “There’s definitely a need in the community to have more services and I think this is going to be a really great addition.”

Construction is set to begin next week, with the anticipated completion by late summer and usage starting in mid-fall 2018.

Payne said this will help with the growing epidemic and need for supports across the province.

“It’s so important that when Albertans are looking for help for their substance use challenges that that help is readily available for them, and as close to home as possible,” she said.

“The new detox beds in Lethbridge are going to be such that people will be able to come; they’ll be able to initiate treatment from there, as well as initiate some of their psycho-social supports, which will really just do a lot to help with the road to recovery. In a lot of ways, when it comes to supports for people with substance use, the sooner we’re able to expand those supports the better,” Payne continued.

“In many ways, we’re dealing with an unprecedented emergency. We’re seeing more people dying than ever before. And, ultimately, we have a history of not treating substance use like the medical condition that it is — which is why I’m really proud our government has moved forward on increasing access to treatment, increasing access to detox and really approaching substance use like the medical condition that it is.”

During her visit to the hospital, Payne also toured one of the newest additions — the eSIM lab (Educate, Simulate, Innovate and Motivate). This simulation lab is being used to help support staff education and training.

photo by Ian Martens @IMartensHerald Thomas Mountain, South Zone West director of addiction and mental health, shows Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne and MLA Maria Fitzpatrick some of the planned features for the new detoxification beds during a tour Thursday in the mental health...