After years of waiting, Bluewater Health has finally received funding for a permanent withdrawal management facility.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey announced Tuesday morning that the Ontario Ministry of Health will provide a one-time capital implementation grant of just over $12 million for the Community Addictions Hub.
"After years of hard work by so many in our community, I am thrilled for everyone who has played a part in advocating so strongly for this project," Bailey said over Zoom.
The centre will include a 24-bed facility, clinical space for programs, treatment and all existing Bluewater Health addiction outpatient services.
It will be located in the currently vacated wing that runs along Russell Street and London Road, adjacent to Bluewater Health’s Russell Street building.
(Future site of Bluewater Health’s Community Addictions Hub. Submitted photo.)
Bluewater Health President and CEO Mike Lapaine said they can now start working aggressively with architects.
"So the next step in this process is really to work with our team to get our architects to put together a plan that's ready to take to tender. So, we hope that in less than two years we should be under construction."
Hospital Vice President of Integrated Services Paula Reaume-Zimmer said the demand for the seven withdrawal beds at Bluewater Health is very high and that the hospital is turning away six to 12 requests for a bed each day.
She said it's hard to believe they're finally having this conversation, and the site is a huge boost for the morale of healthcare workers.
"There's no doubt that when we hear 'it's coming, it's coming,' we're patient, we understand it's a very substantial process, but to share such tangible information today to make it feel so much more of a reality, it really validates the efforts and the hard work of our frontline providers."
Mike Lapaine said it was a team effort to get to this point.
"It wouldn't have been possible without our community and health partners," said Lapaine. "This means from working to provide better addiction services for our community, to our addictions centre planning steering committee. Our community partners have supported and advocated for us every step of the way."
He said they have heard the community's cry for help and today is a great step forward in changing lives for the better in Lambton.
With files from Stephanie Chaves and Colin Gowdy