December 15, 2008

The divestment of the provincially-run Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (MHCP) to the new board of Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene Corporation is now complete -- keeping services and jobs in the community.

This move includes transfer of both the provincial maximum secure forensic and regional mental health programs and services to the public hospital system.

The North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) now assumes its planning and funding role for specialized mental health services in the region.

“The delivery of mental health services and funding decisions will be made locally, ensuring that local needs are being met,” said David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.  “In addition, patients in the province’s maximum secure forensic mental health program will continue to receive world-class care.”

“This is an exciting day for us as we move into the mental health field,” said John Barrett-Hamilton, chair of the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene Corporation. “We will carry forward with the Catholic tradition of health care, continuing to make quality services available to all who need them.”

• The province began divesting provincial psychiatric hospitals in 1998.
• MHCP is the 10th and last provincial psychiatric hospital to be divested to the public hospital system.

Visit Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene and North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN to learn more about local hospital services.

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)

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