NEWS RELEASE
ROYAL VICTORIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
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Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) has taken another step forward in ensuring children and youth of this region have better access to mental health services if they need them.
Starting October 6, RVH has opened an Urgent Consult Clinic (UCC) to provide risk assessment for children and youth who are in need of urgent mental health care but do not require admission to the hospital.
“This is a stepping stone to the development of a comprehensive Child and Youth Mental Health Program at RVH which will include an eight-bed inpatient unit specially designed to be supportive for children and youth as well as a day hospital program, outpatient services and crisis services,” says Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO.
Eventually, patients can be referred to the UCC by emergency or family physicians, community mental health agencies and school boards across the region.
In the early days of this valuable service though, referrals will only come from RVH emergency physicians to ensure a smooth, safe implementation.
The clinic will operate Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and patients referred to the clinic will be seen within 48 hours by a nurse or social worker for an initial risk assessment. After this assessment, a psychiatrist will develop a care management plan.
This clinic is not intended to provide ongoing care or treatment, but rather as a means to connect patients with the appropriate resources for the help they need.
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