QUEST, the Quesnel Unit for Emergency Short Stay Treatment program, is getting a much needed upgrade at GR Baker Hospital.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District has approved the spending of 200 thousand dollars towards towards the project adding to the 300 thousand that the Ministry of Health has kicked in.
The current QUEST Unit opened back in 1997 and Debbie Strang, the Health Services Administrator for Quesnel, says they have simply outgrown it.
She says they are now able to begin planning and doing some renovations in the old second north wing of the hospital which is much bigger and brighter and more conducive to running some treatment programs and mental health programs for their in-patients.
Strang says they currently have 5 beds and now there is room for expansion.
She says the new renovations will also include what’s called a psychiatric intensive care room where people that are quite ill can go.
Strang says the new facility will be located closer to other services in the hospital as well.