News Release

CAMPBELLTON (CNB) – A sod-turning was held today to mark the official start of construction of the Restigouche Hospital Centre. It is scheduled to open during the fall of 2014.
 
"I am pleased that work is getting underway for this state-of-the-art facility, which will provide better care for New Brunswickers with mental illnesses, with an increased focus on recovery, rehabilitation and community-based support," said Premier David Alward. "Our government is certainly committed to working on mental health issues, specifically, making the system more person-centred and responsive to individual, family and community needs as indicated in our Action Plan for Mental Health in New Brunswick 2011-2018."

The centre will have 140 beds in seven in-patient units, along with education and research services, clinical support services, administration and general support services. It will provide a modern standard of health care for Vitalité Health Network patients in the areas of:

●    tertiary rehabilitation psychiatry;
●    older adult psychiatry; and
●    co-occuring mental health and intellectually disabled psychiatry.

The centre will also provide forensic psychiatry for the entire province.

"The new building will offer a more modern and safe working environment for employees and doctors, but above all, it will provide a living environment that better responds to specific patient needs," said Joey Caissie, president and chief executive officer, Vitalité Health Network.

"We have a long history of working in this province, and we are very happy to be working with the Government of New Brunswick on this key sustainably designed public-private partnership, which will be so beneficial to the region," said Pierre Duhaime, president and chief executive officer, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. "We now have seven public-private partnerships across Canada, including the health-care sector mandate for McGill University Health Centre's Glen Campus in Montreal. We are looking forward to providing the same high level of service and expertise through every phase of our mandate at the Restigouche Hospital Centre."