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Shift in Staffing Model for Detox centre

By 250 News

Friday, October 02, 2009 11:14 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Northern Health has announced it is changing its detox program offered though the Nechako Treatment Centre.
Within 3 months, the staff mix will change from 10 nurses, 10 detox workers and one Licensed Practical Nurse, to 5 nurses, 5 licensed practical nurses, and 5 clinicians. Northern Health says the staff reductions will mean displacement for some who will be able to work in other areas, or locations,  of Northern Health.
The change will also see a different mix of use for the 20 beds in detox.   The current number of beds designated for acute withdrawal patients will shift from 4 to 6, while  10 will be designated for non-acute withdrawal and 4 will be for sobering beds for clients who may be under the influence and need to be monitored.
The changes are supposed to accomplish two things, 1. reduce the pressure experienced by the emergency department which is often called up to monitor those in need of detoxification, and 2. Increase the use of the detox unit.
Stats show the detox unit is below 50% capacity 34% of the time, yet, there have been complaints about accessing detox services. The shift in bed usage is expected to address those concerns.

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Posted on Friday, October 02, 2009 11:14 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: bitter on October 2 2009 11:28 AM
Why?Why? why?Has it all increased so much.
Comment Posted by: pgkaygee on October 2 2009 1:36 PM
my friend is one of the detox workers. The detox workers have a minimum of 2 years of education (my friend has 4 years) and years of experience in the field. They were told that they were not qualified to work in the "new detox" but were qualified to be house keepers and kitchen staff. The reason that the numbers are low is that they were so short staffed they could not handle more patients. How much money is this going to cost??
Comment Posted by: pgkaygee on October 2 2009 1:52 PM
my friend is one of the detox workers. The detox workers have a minimum of 2 years of education (my friend has 4 years) and years of experience in the field. They were told that they were not qualified to work in the "new detox" but were qualified to be house keepers and kitchen staff. The reason that the numbers are low is that they were so short staffed they could not handle more patients. How much money is this going to cost??
Comment Posted by: Palopu on October 2 2009 5:08 PM
This is probably a result of the closing of the Nechako Treatment Centre last year.

Most people have probably forgotten that the Government closed the centre, and went to a so-called new model where people would councilled on a walk in basis.

In any event Prince George lost the treatment centre, and detox appears to be picking up the slack,however the downsizing continues.

Get used to various progams, etc; being cut in the next year of so. This Government is broke, and cutting is the only way they can (try) to save a sinking ship.
Comment Posted by: Norm1 on October 2 2009 8:35 PM
Nechako Treatment Centre, which this article is about, shut down for a long period and then reopened with a 3 day detox treatment plan.

Why even have it open, if 3 days is all the time available to treat a patient before they are sent back out into the street?

Is 3 days considered a long enough plan for solution to an alcohol problem?
Comment Posted by: cheekymonkey on October 4 2009 8:04 PM
It's sad that there hasn't been more in the media about the changes occuring in health cre. The "reorganization" of the Detox unit is just one of many cuts made recently. 15 registered nurses have been cut from surgery and there have been reductions to many preventative health programs. Directives come from Victoria and Northern Health brings out the knives. No input from front line workers or the public. I hope those clinicians at the detox don't mind spending most of their time cleaning up poop and puke in between counselling sessions.