The Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority heard about efforts to address improved access to mental health outpatient services at their regular board meeting April 6 in Prince Albert.
Dori Gaudet, regional director of Community Services, said the health region has been struggling to meet wait time targets for psychiatric services in recent months following the retirement of one psychiatrist and reduced working hours for a second.
“We continue to meet the wait time targets for children and youth, along with adults, for those who present with very severe or severe mental health concerns,” Gaudet said during her presentation of the Mental Health, Addiction Services and Acquired Brain Injury quality team.
“However, we are not meeting the wait times for initial appointments for children and youth, and now adults, who are triaged with moderate or mild.”
Gaudet said that means some patients are waiting more than a month for their initial appointment with a psychiatrist. The health region will work to have other mental health providers available to ensure patients receive services. Gaudet also pointed out requests for psychiatric assessment has increased by more than 10 per cent from 2014 to 2015. The health region also provides services to other health region in northern and northeastern Saskatchewan.
“We know that capacity is a challenge we must address. We are working with our current group of psychiatrists, along with the Ministry of Health, to find solutions that will help us meet the needs of the people we serve,” Gaudet said.
The PAPHR implemented an Open Family Presence in all of its facilities March 31. This policy aligns with a provincial strategy. This policy is a foundational step to increase patient and family centeredness. It is also a visible recognition of the role families play in the health and well-being of patients during hospitalization.
In an effort to promote positive healthy outcomes the region will seek to ensure all health care facilities have open family presence policies. The intent is to ensure patients and families accessing services in various regions have similar experiences.
The next Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority board of directors meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 27 in the main floor boardroom at 1521 - 6th Ave. W. in Prince Albert. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.
