Hamilton hospitals claim that they can not host a permanent supervised injection site

Hamilton hospitals claim that they can not create a permanent supervised injection site because they do not have space in the downtown area that offers the Anonymity and accessibility necessary for clients to consume drugs

. Joseph's Healthcare and Hamilton Health Sciences in response to a request from city politicians that they are exploring the possibility of opening a site at one of their locations.

The letter cites large volumes of patients, limited space and concerns around "co-location" with addiction removal services and child health care as some of the reasons their facilities would not be a good one adjustment.

"This, coupled with the requirements of confidentiality, anonymity and accessibility, as well as the needs of current patients, means that no hospitals can offer adequate space and convenient for a safe consumer site at this time ",

Hamilton's first overdose prevention site officially opened in June, but has only sufficient funds for six months (Dan Taekema / CBC)

. who called in early May for meetings between public health officials and local hospital staff to become a "priority" for combating overdose deaths.

"Seventy-five deaths in less than a year in Hamilton" The concept of a supervised injection site in a city hospital was also supported by Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who has already described the situation. Hamilton had a hard time finding a location for a permanent site in or near the downtown core, which hospitals recognized while committing to work with them. the city and community groups to provide addiction and harm reduction services.

Praise for a temporary site

"This would include helping to operate and support a safe consumption site in the community." Such a plan could include the purchase of a property with municipal funds and a collaborative model with community and hospital partners.

Hospitals also commended the Shelter Health Network and the Hamilton Community Health Center for the temporary prevention of overdoses. site, which officially opened in June with enough funding for six months.