Development Begins on Park for Prince Albert Hospital Growth

Development of a parking zone is underway at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital. This is step one in a bigger undertaking to broaden well being providers in northern Saskatchewan.

The enlargement will embody a brand new acute care tower to exchange the grownup psychological well being ward, a bigger emergency division, a helipad and extra medical imaging providers.

“That is vital,” Well being Secretary Paul Merriman stated at a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.

Merriman stated the enhancements will permit sufferers to obtain extra care of their residence communities or nearer. He stated households are already feeling the advantages within the new neonatal intensive care unit that opened final 12 months.

Mayor Greg Dionne stated the town serves about 190,000 folks. This quantity is predicated on market analysis.

“Individuals suppose it is only for us, nevertheless it’s not. This hospital is constructed for us and the North,” he stated.

“It is very irritating for us when somebody says, ‘Can we come see you right here?'” As a result of, after all, being near household and pals is a part of your therapeutic. ”

The expanded hospital will see a 40% enhance in mattress capability from 173 to 242 beds.

It should additionally create about 500 new jobs, boosting the town’s financial system, Dionne defined.

The brand new Prince Albert development undertaking will price $1.2 billion. Dionne stated this included 160 new residences adjoining to the hospital, the town’s first such constructing in 25 years.

“This undertaking behind me impressed me…that is why we’re rising,” he stated.

“After they convey their households in, they give the impression of being round[and say]’Hey, we’ve got a soccer middle, we’ve got a performing arts middle, we’ve got a brand new rink, we’ve got a brand new pool, as a result of an necessary a part of a hospital is the facilities.'”

The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) has labored with state and metropolis governments to convey the expanded hospital to life.

Well being and social growth director Shirley Woods stated it wasn’t in regards to the constructing itself.

“Our actual curiosity is what is going on on contained in the constructing,” she says.

“It is extremely necessary that our members really feel that that is theirs after they go to the hospital. We all know that with possession, individuals are extra prone to really feel snug taking part of their care.”

Woods stated enhancements embody house for Indigenous practices on every ground.

“We wish to contemplate the PA Grand Council as advisors to this neighborhood,” Merriman added.

“We need to ensure that is first in the case of how we combine methods which might be straightforward to make use of for everybody who’s hospitalized, indigenous or non-indigenous.”

To make room for the enlargement, the park will likely be pushed in direction of the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse. This parking zone is for guests and workers.

Merriman stated development on the remainder of the enlargement will start in a couple of 12 months.