October 9, 2015
12 New Medical Beds Aa Brandon Regional Health Centre Will Mean More Comfort, Privacy for Patients: Minister Blady
Patients at the Brandon Regional Health Centre will receive even better front-line services thanks to the redevelopment and renovation of the medical unit at the Brandon Regional Health Centre to better meet the needs for inpatient care, Health Minister Sharon Blady announced today.
“We are always looking to improve the comfort of care for patients when they are staying at a medical facility,” said Minister Blady. “These improvements will mean that patients can receive the high-quality care they need even more efficiently and effectively.”
The redevelopment will include the renovation of 46,500 square feet of space at the facility and create 12 new medical in-patient single rooms with washrooms, along with expanded and improved areas for storage, staff work and family support. This will bring the total number of beds in the unit to 60.
“The redevelopment project reinforces our strategic directions around health system sustainability and improving access so our health-care professionals can provide the right care in the right place at the right time,” said Penny Gilson, chief executive officer, Prairie Mountain Health region. “We continue to look at ways to provide more integrated, co-ordinated and high-quality care within our health-care sites and our programs and services across the continuum of care.”
The medical unit is for the complex care of patients with acute cardiac, respiratory, neurological, renal and gastrointestinal disorders. Other patients served in the medical unit include oncology patients, those exhibiting symptoms of confusion or other physiological needs, and patients requiring alcohol or drug detoxification.
“Built in 1961, the patient wards of the facility formerly known as the Brandon General Hospital have essentially remained unchanged and are outdated,” said Brian Schoonbaert, chief operating officer, Brandon Regional Health Centre. “This update is needed to help improve patient care and comfort,and in response to increased demand for in-patient stays.”
The existing six-bed pediatric unit will be relocated to the second floor to accommodate the medical bed expansion on the fourth and fifth floors. Construction will be completed in stages so there is limited disruption and bed closures will be planned and scheduled to ensure ongoing access to beds while accommodating the work, Minister Blady noted.
“Our government continues to invest in front-line health-care services for Manitobans,” said Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell at an event in Brandon today on behalf of Minister Blady. “More medical beds mean better high-quality care closer to home for people in Brandon and western Manitoba.”
Minister Blady noted the medical bed expansion builds on the $58-million redevelopment of the centre completed in 2004. That project included the creation of morethan 156,000 square feet of new space and the renovation of another 36,000 square feet of existing space, as well as:
- a new surgical service, emergency department, labour-delivery-recovery and post-partum rooms, neonatal intensive care, pharmacy and central instrument processing;
- a new ambulatory care department as well as cardiac diagnostics, day medicine, respiratory therapy and adult day rehabilitation on the main floor;
- six additional hemodialysis stations;
- computerization and other information technologies to improve case co-ordination and case management; and
- new information technologies for the scheduling of day surgical procedures, pre-operative preparations and discharge planning.
A tender for the project is expected to be released later this fall with construction scheduled to begin in the new year, Minister Blady said.
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