News

Approval to Proceed with New East Wing at St. Joseph's Hospital

Date: 2015-04-28

St. Joseph's Care Group (SJCG) is pleased to announce we have received approval from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to award the contract to proceed with construction of the East Wing at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The successful General Contractor through the open tender process is Bondfield Construction.

The new East Wing of St. Joseph’s Hospital is being built to house the 38-bed Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Program (SMHRP). The addition has been designed to meet best practices in mental health care and will provide inpatient, outpatient and outreach services. The new wing will also provide space for many of SJCG’s corporate departments and services.

“This is an important milestone to meet our strategic priorities related to Addictions and Mental Health, and to improve the environment for mental health services we deliver to our clients,” said Tracy Buckler, President & CEO of SJCG. “Our vision to be a leader in client-centred care and to care for the body, mind and spirit of each client will be strengthened in this new environment. By consolidating specialized mental health services at St. Joseph’s Hospital, we will create a site that provides both physical and mental health rehabilitation.”

When the East Wing is complete, people requiring inpatient rehabilitative mental health care will access the service at St. Joseph’s Hospital then be discharged back to the community with the appropriate community support. The provision of mental health care in a rehabilitation hospital setting at St. Joseph's Hospital supports the integration into "mainstream healthcare" and will reduce the stigma and discrimination often experienced by consumers of mental health services and their families.

We are excited to be part of this new era in mental health care for the people in our community and region. St. Joseph's Care Group will continue to work with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and our many community partners to reduce repeat visits to the Emergency Department and to improve system navigation, coordination of care and access to the appropriate level of care.

The East Wing addition to St. Joseph’s Hospital at 35 Algoma Street North will expand the site by approximately 100,000 square feet, to a total of 332,000 square feet. The construction project is approximately two years in duration and will be completed in the spring/summer of 2017.

For more information, please contact:

Brook Latimer
Director of Communications & Engagement
Tel: 807.768.4440

Related Links

• St. Joseph's Care Group gets approval for new hospital east wing (Tbnewswatch.com)