Eves Government and Royal Ottawa Hospital Join Forces to Provide Secure Psychiatric Hospital Unit

BROCKVILLE — Bob Runciman, Minister of Public Safety and Security, today announced the St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre’s 100-bed secure treatment unit for mentally ill offenders has been designated a “Schedule One” facility.

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group will provide in-patient psychiatric treatment services at the combined correctional facility and treatment centre with funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The unit will be operated by the Ministry of Public Safety and Security – Correctional Services.

“This unique new facility will address the need for offender mental health services in a safe and secure correctional environment,” said Runciman.

The unit is part of the first phase of the $90-million St. Lawrence Valley project. Construction is nearly complete and the unit is expected to be operational in spring 2003.

“This joint effort provides a leading-edge model in the management and treatment of mentally ill offenders,” said Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

“Establishing this correctional facility as a Schedule One facility will allow for the full provision of psychiatric treatment for a population who have great need but have been difficult to assess," said Dr. John Bradford, Head of Forensic Psychiatry at the Royal Ottawa Hospital.

The first phase also includes a 44-bed treatment unit for Ministry of Health patients found not criminally responsible. The second phase of the project includes a 300-bed correctional treatment unit for sex offenders and offenders with behavioural and addiction problems and a 54-bed remand unit for individuals awaiting bail or trial.