Improvements Announced for IWK Health Centre
Better patient care and improved working areas for staff will be some of the benefits of a $36.5-million provincial investment in the $48-million restructuring of the IWK Health Centre announced today, Aug. 31.
Premier John Hamm and Health Minister Angus MacIsaac released plans to redevelop inpatient units -- including an improved mental health patient area, operating rooms, a recovery room and day surgery space -- as well as outpatient areas and clinic space in the children's section of the health centre.
"Today's announcement commits much-needed dollars to complete priority capital projects at the IWK's children's site and ensures that young patients and their families can continue to receive the most advanced and accessible health care," said Premier Hamm.
The children's site was constructed in the late 1960s and needs remodelling to support the IWK Health Centre's interdisciplinary and family-centred approaches to care. The project will take about five years to complete.
"This project is a major step towards improving health care for children in the Maritimes," said Mr. MacIsaac. "It means more and better use of space for hospital staff, and it means improved care areas for patients who stay over night, patients who come in for operations and patients who come in for clinic visits."
"While approaches to care have changed, the physical environment at the IWK children's site has not," said Anne McGuire, president and CEO of the IWK. "We are delighted to have the commitment of the province of Nova Scotia and the Department of Health to move ahead with the redevelopment of the children's site.
"Today's announcement means we will be able to make some much-needed upgrades in order to continue to provide the best possible care to Maritime children and their families."
The redevelopment project includes 48,000 square feet of new space including the construction of a new two-story addition over the existing link building, together with renovation and retrofitting of 160,000 square feet of existing space.
The project is being rolled out in five phases to reduce disruption to hospital services and is expected to be completed by 2009-10. The total project cost is $48.7 million. The Department of Health will provide $36.5 million -- 75 per cent of the funding. The IWK Foundation will provide the remaining $12.2 million.