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Richmond Hospital renovations underway at in-patient acute mental health unit

Richmond Hospital Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign for the project
Richmond Hospital2
The in-patient acute mental health unit at Richmond Hospital is being renovated. Valerie Leung photo

Work is underway to revamp mental health care at Richmond Hospital.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has begun renovating the hospital’s in-patient acute mental health unit, which will improve patient safety and mental health care and support for Richmond.

One in five people face mental health challenges, according to Matt Ilich, director of the Richmond Hospital Foundation board, and the revamped facility will be “instrumental in supporting people on their journey to mental wellness.”

The foundation has also launched a $1.3 million fundraising campaign to help fund the project.

“Your support will make a significant impact, creating an environment so patients can recover and heal with dignity and respect,” said Ilich.

Currently, the unit – on the second floor of the hospital – has 18 beds, with physicians, nurses and health professionals caring for more than 250 patients each year, with an average 30-day stay per person.

Once renovated, the 10,000-square-foot space will include a family dining area, kitchen, multifunctional activity room, patient and family lounge, as well as new furniture, lighting and décor, according to VCH.

The renovation will have a “long-lasting, positive impact” on patient care, according to Karen Barclay, director of Richmond Mental Health and Substance Use at VCH.

“Our vision is to continue to deliver the highest quality of mental health care in a new, comfortable space that puts patients and their families at the centre of everything we do.”

The renovated in-patient acute mental health unit is scheduled to open in late 2021.