It's what the community wants. It's what the community needs.
By Labour Day, they are expected to get it. Last week, Premier Wab Kinew announced that a temporary Emergency Department would open on the grounds of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
Over the next few weeks, expect a lot of activity around the hospital getting the temporary facility set up. Temporary generators and breaker boxes are already on site. You will notice trailers and other equipment moving in over the coming days.
CKDM NewsNow caught up with Dauphin's mayor, David Bosiak, to get his thoughts. He said it's really good news for the community.
"His announcement is very encouraging. What I got from it was hurry up, hurry hard. Let's make sure we're all on the same page and pulling the same direction," said Bosiak. "I think it was to light a fire under everybody over there that is trying to make something happen. This is really important."
Kinew said it's a huge amount of work getting the electrical, diagnostics, and treatment spaces together.
He also knows how important healthcare is for people in the Parkland. The needs of those needing ED services will soon be met.
"So that if you show up, God forbid, if you have an emergency and you need that healthcare, you're going to be able to get your vitals taken by a nurse," said Kinew. "You're going to get assessed by a physician, and they will do what is needed to take care of you."
The cleanup at the DRHC continues.
As its worse, water was up to five feet throughout the the facility. Minister Asagwara said that over six million litres of water was pumped out of that site.
More than 90 staff are on-site daily remediating, draining water, cleaning up, assessing, and evaluating. Simply put, it's been all-hands on deck.
While there is no timeline for when the DRHC will reopen, Bosiak credits those working long hours to repair and rebuild what it was before the devastating flood.
"The resilience of the folks that are going there every day to work," ended Bosiak. "They're working in a less than ideal environment. It's hats off to everyone that is trying to get it back up and running as quickly as possible."
A diagnostic patient service Centre is also open in the Dauphin Provincial Building.
It's on Level 1, in Room 111, at 27 Second Avenue Southwest. It's open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can call 622-3582. The Centre offers walk-in X-ray, urine collection, blood tests, electrocardiogram (EKG) & Holter monitoring services.
Kinew says the Centre will continue to operate.
"It'll take a bit of the pressure off standing everything up on the hospital site," offered Kinew.
Wab appreciates everyone in the region for pushing for this. He said it's all going to come together and will meet the healthcare needs of those who need it.
