November 25, 2005
STE. ANNE—An upgraded patient-care wing and two new birthing rooms in the Ste. Anne Hospital were officially opened here today by Health Minister Tim Sale.
"These upgrades and the addition are excellent examples of our commitment to invest in rural health care and provide Manitobans outside Winnipeg with access to safe and secure health-care services," said Sale. "We will continue to work with partners across the province to further strengthen health care and provide all Manitobans with better care sooner and closer to home."
The improvements to the facility include:
relocating and enlarging the nursing station to provide a better view of the emergency area, observation beds and waiting areas;
providing improved patient safety features including a new nurse call system and security system and other electrical upgrades;
replacing cracked flooring;
installing a sprinkler system, a new humidification system and energy-efficient air systems, as well as other mechanical upgrades;
providing accessibility features including one fully-accessible bathing room and widening patient washroom doors; and
adding two labour, birthing, recovery and post-partum rooms which include space for a partner or other family members, a closet for equipment and an attached washroom.
"We are extremely pleased that Manitoba Health supported this initiative, which provides a better and safer environment for patients and staff," said Monique Vielfaure Mackenzie, chief executive officer of South Eastman Health/Santé Sud-Est Inc. "The funding of the new labour, birth, recovery and post-partum rooms by the Fonds Hôpital Ste. Anne Foundation is also commendable and shows the true commitment of the community’s desire to enhance quality services in our region."
"Many people in the community have been vital to the project’s successful completion, and they deserve our most sincere gratitude," said Sale. "I want to thank the regional health authority, the hospital foundation and the community for all their hard work."
Ste. Anne Hospital is a 21-bed acute-care facility serving a primarily francophone population in southeastern Manitoba. Manitoba has invested $1.6 million to modernize this facility.
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