September 19, 2006

Construction on the largest health capital project in the province’s history is now complete and the keys to the Ann Thomas Building at Health Sciences Centre were handed over today to Premier Gary Doer and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

“This is a landmark project that is going to greatly improve the quality of patient care at our largest teaching hospital and provincial trauma centre, and reflects our ongoing commitment to quality health care,” Doer said. “Today’s announcement builds on major renovations to Victoria, Seven Oaks and Ste. Anne hospitals, and new hospitals in Brandon and Swan River.”

Construction of the 286,000-square-foot facility began in May 2003 with an investment of more than $135 million by the province, the largest single investment ever made in a Manitoba hospital.

“This is a state-of-the-art facility and the design, the spaces within it, even the lighting all take into account all the changes in technology and patient treatment philosophy that have occurred since the original structure was built in the 1950s,” said Dr. Brian Postl, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “The result will be better patient care and patient spaces as well as a greatly-improved workplace for our health-care professionals.”

The three floors and basement level of the Critical Services Redevelopment Project are connected to existing buildings at all levels. The new building is named after Ann Thomas, one of the first Aboriginal nursing graduates from the then Winnipeg General Hospital.

“Putting all critical services into one building just made sense and everything needed to treat critically- ill patients is now basically in one area,” said Dr. Brock Wright, chief operating officer of Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and vice president of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “When you’re dealing with critically-ill patients, every minute counts, and now all the expertise, the equipment and the resources required will be easily accessible.”

The critical services components of the project will include:

• adult and pediatric emergency departments,

• adult and pediatric intensive care units,

• adult and pediatric surgical suites,

• an operating room dedicated to trauma cases,

• a new post-anesthesia care unit,

• a new coronary care unit,

• new radiology procedure rooms,

• a new central equipment processing unit,

• a new satellite diagnostic imaging unit,

• building services, and

• a 10-person burn unit.

“This project shows our government’s commitment to invest in modern health-care facilities throughout the province,” said Doer. “It will not only meet the needs of patients who require top-notch health care, but will also help our dedicated health professionals provide better care sooner to all Manitobans.”

The Health Sciences Centre will be organizing public tours of the new facility in the coming months as staff is trained and equipment is installed. The new facility will begin accepting patients early in the new year.

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