Restigouche Hospital Centre

operational

Opportunity The Provincial Hospital, a 172-bed psychiatric hospital in New Brunswick, had been operating since 1954 and could no longer meet the requirements for modern psychiatric care. In order to provide patients with better care in a facility that emphasized recovery, the Government of New Brunswick issued an RFP for a new psychiatric hospital in September 2010. Challenges SNC-Lavalin’s Infrastructure Concessions Investments (ICI) business unit led the arrangement of financing for the project during the difficult economic times that followed the 2008 economic crisis. The project was successfully capitalized despite liquidity constraints and the need on the part of lenders and credit agencies for additional due diligence. Innovations The project was able to be refinanced in 2013 using new debt instruments (short- and long-term bonds), providing fresh working capital to fund current operations and capitalize the next phase of the project. Results The new 31,050 square-metre, 140-bed psychiatric hospital was completed on-time and on-budget. The hospital provides specialized medium- and long-term psychiatric rehabilitation services, and consultation and stabilization services for those suffering from complex psychiatric problems and other related illnesses. The hospital has a 60-bed forensic psychiatry unit that assesses fitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility and provides care for those who have been found not criminally responsible because of mental disorder or who are not fit to stand trial. All services are provided in both official languages. Two private apartments are also on-site to prepare patients about to leave the hospital. The hospital is outfitted with multiple cameras and a personal location system for staff with alarms so they can call for assistance if a patient is in danger. The new hospital provides a better environment for delivery of mental health services and the improved working environment is an asset for recruiting and retaining physicians and staff. The hospital is focused on community living and reintegration and includes a mini-village with a hair salon, dentist, chapel, woodworking shop and a small clothing store. The hospital was designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

High