Says he has the support of the premier
Jack Keating
Province
Mayor Sam Sullivan is urging the provincial government to reopen Riverview Hospital as a “compassionate solution” for the mentally ill who are living on Vancouver streets.
Sullivan said yesterday that he has the support of Premier Gordon Campbell in his quest to reactivate part of the landmark hospital in Coquitlam.
“There are semi-independent living units in Riverview — not the old-style asylum,” said Sullivan, noting there are 1,500 people in Vancouver with a diagnosed mental illness living in terrible conditions.
“These are places that are very livable and wonderful for people to live,” he said.
“There are wonderful grounds there and they can come and go, but if they don’t come home, they’re missed and somebody goes and gets them.”
Sullivan, who is on the Premier’s Task Force on homlessness, mental illness and addiction, is optimistic the government will act on reactivating Riverview.
“I know the premier is very interested in it,” he said.
Health Minister George Abbott confirmed yesterday that the government is “exploring options” for “further development” at Riverview.
“We recognize there are some patients who require a higher level of care than can be provided in a community-based setting,” said Abbott in an e-mail to The Province.
The 94-year-old institution, which was home to more than 4,000 patients in the 1950s, still houses about 300 patients on its sprawling, 80-hectare facility.
At one time, the government intended to completely close Riverview but that plan was never fully implemented.
“The continued use of the Riverview site for people with a mental illness is already in place with the openings of Cottonwood and Connolly Lodge and more beds on the way,” said Abbott.
© The Vancouver Province 2007