The community of Neepawa is gearing up for the construction of a new hospital.
The Manitoba Government announced Monday that a new hospital will be built on nearly 40 acres of farmland on the town's east side with preparations for construction on the property set to begin in two weeks.
Health Minister Audrey Gordon was on hand for the announcement and she had this to say.
“Our government is building a stronger healthcare system for all Manitobans including residents in Neepawa and surrounding communities in the Westman region,” said Gordon. “When complete, this investment in a new hospital will serve as a foundation for a health-care system that allows residents in this region to more easily access specialized health-care services closer to home without the need to travel to larger centres like Brandon or Winnipeg for care.”
The new facility will be located on recently rezoned land east of Lions Riverbend Campground near Provincial Trunk Highway 16. The Neepawa facility is expected to serve patients from the broader geographic area.
The new facility will be nearly four times the size of the existing Neepawa Health Centre and it will include the following
- 63 acute care inpatient beds, up from 38 at the current site; an expanded emergency department designed to best practice standards that include treatment and assessment rooms;
- a trauma room, a stretcher bay and an ambulance bay;
- and enhanced space for a number of programs, such as surgery, diagnostics and palliative care as well as various outpatient services including chemotherapy and ambulatory care services.
Brian Schoonbaert, CEO of Prairie Mountain Health was also on hand for the announcement
“Prairie Mountain Health is extremely pleased to be moving forward to replace the existing Neepawa hospital as we work with our health partners and stakeholders to meet the anticipated needs of our growing population within this part of the health region,” he said. “We are grateful that construction will soon begin and plans for additional communication with staff, community leaders and residents will take place in the very near future.”
Renal services will be established in the community for the first time at the new site, following a review of the number and frequency of patients travelling for dialysis treatment. There are currently 28 hemodialysis patients living in the catchment area who could potentially benefit from the new, eight-station unit in Neepawa.
“Kidney dialysis patients who live in or near Neepawa are used to making multiple trips per week to other communities to receive care,” said Dr. Mauro Verrelli, provincial medical specialty lead for renal health, Shared Health. “Establishing this service in Neepawa will improve their quality of life by significantly shortening commutes, allowing them to be closer to the network of family and friends they rely upon for support.”
The project is expected to be at least $127 million dollars and the projected target date for completion is in 2025.
