Page 8 - GBGH Foundation - Mental Health Case For Support
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FROM THE FRONT LINES
A message from Dr. Cait Button,
GBGH Chief of Emergency Services
What I want to emphasize to you is this: I know of too our Emerg staff’s ability to help other patients was impacted by
many instances where the standard of holistic care – the challenge of caring for mental health patients without the right
both physical and mental – is not being met. support.
As an Emergency Physician, I see the mental health pressures on WE SEE the importance of holistic care for our patients, and we
every shift. And I’m not the only one… every Emerg physician and know it is not patient-centred care when mental and physical
nurse in our hospital sees this challenge and experiences this health needs aren’t being met simultaneously.
frustration every time they work.
We will work hard to change this for mental health patients by
As just one of many examples of why the need is so great, establishing a program that brings mental health services – both
recently, our Emergency department had seven mental health inpatient and a day hospital program – to our hospital. But we need
patients in crisis… without a single mental health bed available in your help. We need you to join us in a new beginning for better
the region. healing today. Our patients and our community deserve more.
Two of these seven patients waited more than 60 hours in our
Emerg for an acute bed. That was 60 hours during which their
physical care needs were capably being met by the Emerg team,
but their mental health care was delayed. And 60 hours where
8 • MENTAL HEALTH CASE FOR SUPPORT
