October 27, 2004

Health Minister Tim Sale today approved the awarding of a contract for the development of ACCESS Transcona, a new primary health care centre in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

Ransby Holdings Ltd. of Winnipeg was awarded the contract and will begin work on the project immediately.

ACCESS Transcona will house integrated health and social services and programs organized to meet the primary health care needs of the Transcona area.

Primary health care emphasizes health promotion, illness prevention and timely treatment of disease and, if necessary, links patients to more specialized care such as that provided in hospitals.

Primary health care also links with other services that play a part in addressing the factors that affect health such as social services, housing and education.

"Integrating services and programs as we are doing at ACCESS Transcona is key to transforming the health care system, and combining services in one location helps us deliver timely, efficient and cost-effective services to the local community," said Sale. "Area residents will be quickly connected to the health and social services they need, helping them enjoy healthier lives."

ACCESS Transcona is being developed as part of a partnership among the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Manitoba Health and Manitoba Family Services and Housing.

The total cost for the project is expected to be approximately $3.5 million. Part of the funding comes from the federal government’s Primary Health Care Transition Fund which was created to support the first ministers’ agreement on the renewal of Canada’s health care system.

- 30 -