Photo: Liam Verster

By Shaun Penner

Mental Health Unit

Expanded mental health unit coming to Grande Prairie Regional Hospital

Jul 17, 2020 | 11:37 AM

The Alberta government says the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital (GPRH) will be home to 60 new inpatient beds, which will include those for an expanded mental health unit.

In a release sent out Friday morning, the province says GPRH will be home to a 28-bed mental health unit that will replace the 18-bed unit at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital. Of the 28 beds, 14 will be adult beds, six will be for psychiatric intensive care unit beds, and four each will be for youth and geriatric beds.

“We are continuing to prioritize the mental health and addiction recovery of Albertans with the addition of 28 new treatment beds in Northern Alberta,” said Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Jason Luan.

“People in Grande Prairie and surrounding communities will now have access to the excellent treatment and recovery care available in our province.”

The other 32 beds will be used for medicinal and surgical space within the new hospital.

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It was officially announced at the end of June, after nearly a decade since construction started, that GPRH was officially being handed over to Alberta Health Services for commissioning. Construction on the hospital began in 2011, and the latest projections suggest the commissioning and installation of equipment at the new hospital will take nearly a year.

The official opening of the hospital is expected in the summer of 2021.

“I am excited that we are moving ahead so quickly on the development of these much-needed mental health beds in Grande Prairie,” said Minister of Infrastructure Prasad Panda. “Projects like these are providing jobs today, while ensuring critical health infrastructure needs will continue to be met.”

The province estimates the work on this phase of the hospital project will create 184 “well-paying” construction and related jobs.

During the announcement that construction was completed back in June, the province said the final cost of construction for GPRH came in at $850.3 million.

GPRH will also be home to a new cancer care centre with two radiation treatment areas, surgical facilities and emergency services. It will also boast a new health care training facility for Grande Prairie Regional College.

SEE MORE: Take the tour: Construction of Grande Prairie Regional Hospital now complete