West Windsor could eventually be home to a new specialized psychiatric emergency department.
Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare CEO Janice Kaffer told Essex County council Wednesday night that around $8-million in provincial funding is needed for the facility at the Tayfour Campus.
She says it could take seven to ten years to realize, but it'll take a lot of pressure off the system, adding that "70% to 80% don't need to be assessed in an emergency department. They don't have a reason to be admitted, and should and could be more expeditiously cared for in a patient-centred and specialized area that deals with mental health clients."
Kaffer also told county politicians that plans are underway to expand the neuro-behavioural outreach team and attract more psychiatrists to the area.
The outreach team helps paramedics.
Around 15% of EMS calls are in mental health related.
Kaffer says seven to ten years is too long, and work is being done to speed-up the process.
She admits our area is trying to catch-up to the rest of the province when it comes to specialized psychiatric emergency departments.