Visiting the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital

The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital is located at:
70 Colony Farm Road
Port Coquitlam,  BC, V3C 5X9
Tel. 604-524-7700

Get directions to the hospital.

New policy on smoking: For all visitors to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, please be advised that as of March 1, 2008, the buildings, grounds and parking areas will be smoke-free. We kindly ask that you support our staff and patients with this change, by not bringing or sending tobacco or tobacco products to the facility after this date. (For more information, see the PHSA website.)

Visiting hours:

- Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

- Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: for Oak House, Hawthorne House and the Cottages only, 11:00 am to 8:30 pm; for all other units, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Any visits outside the usual visiting hours must be arranged through the nurse in charge of the unit, or the patient's treatment team.

Family involvement:

We welcome and encourage the involvement of family in the care and treatment of our patients. Families are often the first to know when their loved ones are distressed or experiencing emotional difficulties. The treatment team values this information and welcomes your involvement. Please do not hesitate to contact the unit via 604-524-7700 if you have any questions or information to share. The nurse in charge of the unit will be pleased to put you in touch with the treatment team.

Children:

Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult and must be supervised at all times while visiting the hospital.

General visiting regulations:

• On arrival, visitors are required to report to the Security Office (immediately to the right of the front entrance) to fill in the visitor registry and to confirm their identity and the specific patient to be visited. Security will issue a visitor tag in exchange for a suitable piece of identification, which will be returned at the end of the visit.
• The number of visitors can be restricted by the nurse in charge at any time.
• Cameras, videorecorders or any other recording devices are not allowed in patient care areas.
• Staff will use their discretion in determining the appropriateness of items brought by visitors.
• Visitors are only allowed to visit the patient who they identified at the Security Office.
• Visitors must remain in the area designated by nursing staff.
• The nurse in charge may terminate or modify visits for clinical and/or security reasons, and reserves the right to refuse visiting privileges pending a review.
• Visitors will not be allowed access if they appear to be intoxicated.
• Visitors may be electronically searched.
• The hospital is not responsible for lost or stolen property.

Visiting in Ashworth Units:

In addition to the above general regulations:

• A maximum of two visitors per patient will be allowed at one time on Ashworth units.
• Visitors are not allowed to bring the following items to Ashworth units:
  wallets, purses, handbags, backpacks, parcels/packages, bags, food, illegal substances, alcohol, knives or any weapons, glass or metal containers, medications, lighters or matches, or gifts for patients.
• Special arrangements for food can be made with the nurse in charge prior to visiting.
• Locked storage areas are provided for the safekeeping of handbags, etc., or visitors may take these items back to their vehicle if preferred.
• All visiting in the Ashworth units will be supervised by nursing staff.