Why are acute mental health and emergency psychiatry services consolidating at LHSC South Street Campus?

While prompted by the shortage of psychiatrists in the city, care providers suggested this early consolidation (targeted for early April) to bring acute mental health services together in an effort to provide better coverage, decrease decrease wait times and create one centre of excellence for care.

If South Street is closing, why move this program there?

We need to respond to the needs of this program now. Acute mental health services will be eventually located at the Westminster Tower of LHSC, but it will take some time to prepare these facilities in concert with city-wide construction/renovations.

Will South Street really close in December 1999?

No. This site will remain open until the facilities for acute mental health programs and other services at the Westminster Campus are ready for occupancy. Many program moves must take place before we can determine the actual date of closure. In the meantime, a decommissioning plan for the site has already begun. The decommissioning process will be complex not only because the buildings are old, but because most of the land at South Street Campus is owned by the City of London. Therefore, no decisions will be made on the uses of the land without public input.

Who represents staff in all this planning?

The city-wide Human Resources Agreement was planning with the involvement of representatives of non-union staff and local union bargaining units. The service workers at Parkwood and OPSEU employees at London/St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital have not entered into this agreement at this time.

Staff members and care providers have been involved on task teams to conduct planning for the Joint Committee. Involvement will continue, particularly as each hospital begins to implement city-wide task team reports.

When and how will I know if any of these changes will impact me?

The complexity of this restructuring requires planning, building and change to happen in phases. This does not make it easy for staff as all the answers will not be known at the same time.

We do know that as program moves are scheduled, staff members will be involved in the plans. Our respective union representatives and human resources staff will provide information and support as the human resources plan is used. We will do our best to provide ongoing updates and opportunities to ask questions.

What should I tell my patients when they ask what's happening with the hospitals?

Generally, you can tell patients that programs will be moving or coming together during the next few years to maintain care and use our resources effectively. We were directed to do this by the government but London care providers and community members are moves make sense for patients we serve. It is important to assure patients that all services will continue to be offered but may be at a different location.We are working with community groups to create ways to keep the public informed as changes happen. If you or a client, patient or family member has a question, please contact LHSC or St. Joseph's Communication Departments.