PREFERRED PROPONENT SELECTED FOR ST. JOSEPH'S REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CAREPROJECT

LONDON, ON, Dec. 17 /CNW/ - St. Josesph's Health Care, London (St. Joseph's) and Infrastructure Ontario announced today that Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) is the preferred proponent selected to design, build, finance and maintain two new specialized mental health care facilities in London and St. Thomas. As the preferred proponent, ITS is in the process of negotiating a final contract with St. Joseph's and Infrastructure Ontario.

The new St. Joseph's Regional Mental Health Care London facility will be constructed adjacent to Parkwood Hospital in London. Its programs will accommodate inpatient and outpatient services for:

• assessment
• mood and anxiety disorders
• psychosis
• dual diagnosis
• geriatric psychiatry
• adolescent psychiatry 

The new St. Joseph's Regional Mental Health Care St. Thomas facility will be a forensic mental health-care facility built on the existing lands in St. Thomas. It will provide specialized inpatient and outpatient services, including assessment, treatment, outreach and support services to individuals with a mental illness who have come into significant contact with the criminal justice system.

The two new facilities will better support staff and a recovery model of care for clients by introducing more natural light, a community setting for client care and opportunities for future growth.

The project, which will include the construction of the two facilities totalling 650,000 square feet of new space, will provide stimulus to the local and regional economies by creating construction jobs and supporting spin-off activity.

St. Joseph's aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) Silver certification for the design and construction of the new facility. LEED^® standards focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

The selection of ITS is the result of an extensive evaluation process that followed a request for proposals process that began in January 2010.

The ITS consortium represents a joint venture between EllisDon Corporation and Fengate Capital Management Ltd., with EllisDon also providing design build services. The facilities were designed by Parkin Architects and Architects Tillmann Ruth Mocellin. Honeywell Limited will provide facilities management. Scotia Capital acted as financial advisor to ITS.

Following successful negotiations with ITS the project is expected to reach commercial close and financial close in early 2011, which will mean that relevant contracts have been signed, a financing rate has been set, the project's costs are finalized, and funds have been made available for the project.

Project costs will be announced publicly following financial close of the project and construction is expected to begin shortly after.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with St. Joseph's to build the hospitals, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.  Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget. As well, it is dedicated to providing the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew their infrastructure. 

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.

Quotes

Hon. Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure
"Since 2005 we have invested approximately $9.6 billion in health care infrastructure. Today's announcement illustrates the government's continued commitment to building modern health care facilities that provide Ontarians with the services they need and deserve."

Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and MPP for London North Centre
"This is an important step in realizing a long-time vision to improve mental health facilities for some of our province's most vulnerable people. Our government is committed to improving our health care system to increase access to services for the people of London, St. Thomas and for all Ontarians."  

Hon. Chris Bentley, Attorney General, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and MPP for London West
"Investing in our health care infrastructure is a great way to stimulate our economy, create jobs and build stronger and healthier communities."

Khalil Ramal, MPP for London - Fanshawe
"The new facilities are going to make such a difference to the people who work and receive care here. I am very pleased to see this project take another important step."

Gillian Kernaghan, President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health Care, London
"Today's announcement is a significant step forward in the work to build new mental health care facilities in London and St. Thomas. We are pleased that the new facility environments being built will support a recovery model of care and assist us in providing exceptional mental health care to our patients."

Disponible en français

For further information:

Nicole Laven        St. Joseph's Health Care, London     519-646-6100 ext. 42679

Mandy Downes Infrastructure Ontario 416-327-5246