September 29, 2006

Construction will soon begin on the $3.2-million Thompson General Hospital dialysis redevelopment project, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.

“Manitoba Health and the Burntwood Regional Health Authority have collaborated with the Manitoba Renal Program to make sure the expansion will meet current dialysis demand needs,” said Oswald. “This 10-bed, state-of-the-art facility will make sure that local dialysis services are available to residents living in the Burntwood region.”

Manitoba Health is investing more than $3.2 million in the 6,000-square-foot project, which will be located next to the hospital entrance. Work on the project, designed by Synyshyn Architecture and Corbett Cibinel Architects and managed by Akman Construction, is scheduled to begin in October.

“We know that people need access to dialysis services close to where they live,” said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton speaking on behalf of Oswald in Thompson today.  “This redevelopment of dialysis services will limit the amount of travel for local residents and allow them to receive this life-saving treatment close to their family and their homes.”

The dialysis unit in Thompson is closely linked with the Manitoba Renal Program.  Hemodialysis treatments are currently provided at 13 locations in Manitoba with 173 stations providing hemodialysis treatment for about 803 patients. 

“This project will benefit the residents of our region, many of whom have had to move to Winnipeg to receive dialysis, a life-long treatment for end-stage renal disease,” said Rene Comte, acting CEO of the Burntwood Regional Health Authority (BRHA).  “We look forward to having our residents receive care in a state-of-the-art facility.”

Comte also noted the thoroughfare between the Thompson General Hospital and the BRHA Administration Building will be permanently closed as part of the project.

All patients who need kidney dialysis have end-stage renal disease which means they must have dialysis services to live.  Patients require ongoing treatments to rinse toxins from the body that are normally removed by healthy kidneys.

Construction of this project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2007.

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