The first phase towards getting back to a sense of normalcy at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert has been implemented by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

This past Tuesday, the Prince Albert Child and Youth Inpatient Unit was re-opened with up to five inpatient beds. The service slowdown occurred in mid-June of last year with the sudden passing of a long-time child and youth psychiatrist and the retirement of another local psychiatrist. Patients and families had been referred to Saskatoon for care. In the interim, the S-H-A undertook a joint recruitment and operational review strategy to re-evaluate the service and determine how to achieve successful recruitment and long-term sustainability.