PMID: 9534577Apr 16, 1998Paper

The future of psychiatric hospitals in Ontario

Santé mentale au Québec
K Barnard-Thompson, P Leichner

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review past and present roles and to speculate on the future of the Ontario provincial psychiatric hospitals (PPHs). Currently, and for the very immediate future only, there are 10 PPHs that are owned and operated by the Ministry of Health of Ontario, each serving a specified population ranging from 250,000 to over 3,000,000. In addition to clinical expertise, provincial psychiatric hospitals contribute greatly to teaching and research. Ontario's mental health reform movement has called for a shift of resources to the community and a downsizing of PPHs by 2003. In response to fiscal pressures, in 1996 provincial legislation was passed to establish the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) as a stand-alone corporation with powers to restructure and reengineer health services in Ontario. The HSRC has to date recommended the closure of 4 PPHs by 1999 and the integration of theses services into other medical facilities. While a rebalancing of the mental health system does need to take place, the fiscally driven haste to close hospitals has created a crisis atmosphere in PPHs for staff and patients. It is also unlikely that the necessary community resources will be in place to buffer these c...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.