November 19, 2004

The Pas—A renovation of the St. Anthony’s Hospital special care unit (SCU), emergency room and dialysis unit has been approved for design, Health Minister Tim Sale announced today.

"Modernizing health care infrastructure and delivering services in innovative ways are important components of the government’s overall health care strategy," said Sale. "They’re also critical in attracting health care professionals to the province and retaining them."

"The renovation to the hospital will help meet the needs of residents living within the NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority (RHA)," said Drew Lockhart, chief executive officer of the NOR-MAN RHA. "We are pleased Manitoba Health is supporting this project to ensure that we can continue to provide efficient and effective care to residents living in the NOR-MAN region."

Expected changes to the health centre include:

• renovating a three-bed special care unit;

• renovating the exam/treatment area within the emergency room to make it more functional; and

• expanding the health centre’s dialysis unit to 10 stations from the present four.

"This is another step toward revitalizing Manitoba’s health care system," said Sale. "Manitobans have said they want more health care facilities and services closer to home and the renovation of the health centre will respond to this need."

"This government believes that projects like the one announced today are an investment that not only benefits northern residents but all Manitobans," said Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin. "We will continue to work with northern and Aboriginal communities, non-government organizations and the private sector to tackle the needs of northeners."

The renovation of the hospital meets one of the five goals of the government's Northern Development Strategy: providing quality health care, good housing, reliable transportation, employment and training, and economic development.

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