NORTH BATTLEFORD FORENSIC UNIT OPENED

Released on March 16, 1995

Health Minister Lorne Calvert today attended the official opening of
the new forensic unit at Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford.

The 24-bed unit offers psychiatric assessment and treatment to people
charged with or convicted of a crime who are suspected of having a
mental disorder. Renovations to the unit, costing $1.4 million,
equipped it with security measures to safely detain prisoners as
required by the justice system.

Before the unit was developed, Saskatchewan paid the federal government
to provide service at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan Hospital's ability to deal with prisoners was limited by
its lack of security.

"The success of this unit is a fine example of the work being done by
Saskatchewan Hospital and the Battlefords Health District," Calvert
said.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Saskatchewan Hospital and the
province to offer these services. The unit allows us to make wiser use
of our health dollars because the services provided by the federal
government were at a much higher rate."

The unit has an annual budget of about $1 million.

Calvert said development of the unit is in keeping with recommendations
contained in a report on psychiatric care needs entitled Values,
Principles and a Vision for the Delivery of Long Term Psychiatric Care
in Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

Mark Seland
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: 787-3825