Nechako Treatment Centre Shut Down Unfortunate says Director
By 250 News
Thursday, July 24, 2008 03:40 PM
Prince George, B.C. - The closure of the Nechako Treatment centre, the only residential treatment centre under the wing of Northern Health, is “unfortunate” says Jim Campbell, the Regional Director of Addiction Services.
He says the shut down is “primarily” for the summer, but he can’t say when the four week live in treatment program will resume. “We are trying to recruit staff now” says Campbell.
The CBC reported earlier today that the 10 bed centre’s closure for the summer is due to a staff shortage.
The 4 week program requires there be two staff members on site 24/7. Normally the program can operate with o9 employees, but they are down to just 4 because of summer holidays and unexpected medical leaves. Campbell told Opinion250 the program cannot be run “safely” with such low staff numbers.
Cambell says the program is not an urgent service as the people seeking treatment have already attended the detox program and have had some counseling “They are further down into the system.”
The closure came on July 4th, and Campbell says it impacted 10 people who were waiting to enter the program “We spoke with each person’s addiction counselor and alternate treatment was found either in their home community or in the support recovery beds at the hospital.”
The Nechako Centre needs at least six staff members to operate. There are other programs available, but they do not require the clients to live in the centre during the course of treatment. The non residential withdrawal unit and the Nechako Youth unit remain open.
Acting Mayor Don Zurowski says he is disappointed to hear of the closure “Prince George is the retail centre for the north, the education centre, service centre and the health care centre for the north and there are people in need of this service.” He urged Northern Health to try and work with Initiatives Prince George to recruit and retain the professionals needed to keep the centre operating.
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