A $300,000 funding commitment from the province will benefit the detox unit at the La Ronge Health Centre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Provincial Funding

Provincial funding to hire LPNs for La Ronge detox unit

Mar 21, 2019 | 5:01 PM

The $300,000 announced in the provincial budget Wednesday for the detox unit in La Ronge will be used to hire licensed practical nurses to provide 24-hour care.

“We did a review of our detox services in early fall of last year and what we noted was the complexity of the clients coming through, specifically [with] more complex medical issues,” Saskatchewan Health Authority Executive Director for Primary Health Care Brett Enns said. “There was definitely a need for a more holistic medical support model that would be supported by physicians and now the nursing staff, as well as our detox aids and our addiction service counsellors. This is certainly a huge step forward and we look forward to the next phases of this.”

The detox unit at the La Ronge Health Centre averaged about 18 clients per month from April 2018 to March 2019. The unit is currently operated through a mix of emergency department and acute care staff, Enns stated, and is a stretch on existing resources. With the extra funding, he added the dedicated work can be done in an area better suited for clients, lead to better engagement and enhanced safety for clients.

In La Ronge, there are currently two forms of detox an individual can enter with the longest stay being up to 10 days. Enns noted the first form is called brief detox, which typically lasts 24 hours and provides patients with a safe and monitored place to recover from intoxication from alcohol or other substances. The social detox program, however, last between seven and 10 days, and assists clients with their emotions as well as with managing their reaction while coming off of substances.

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“The unfortunate part is we as a society are struggling with substance misuse and abuse, but this announcement is a very positive step for certainly the treatment of issues, not only in the community of La Ronge, but in the surrounding area as well,” Enns said. “It helps to provide a very strong supportive environment that just enhances the current services we already provide, and it just makes it a much stronger unit for the clients we serve.”

Enns also stated the Saskatchewan Health Authority is in the early stages of working with physicians and community partners to develop a plan for implementation. One of the next phases would be recruitment of staff.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno