Rivers Health Centre addition hoped for soon

Details

Published on Thursday, April 16, 2015

By Gary Pomeroy

Chairman

Rivers Health Action Committee (HAC) has been working for two years towards the construction of a multi-purpose room addition at Rivers’ health centre. The rehab unit has proven to be very successful but is in desperate need of increased space. This addition would provide a new area for rehab patients for group dining, exercises and activities. All these activities support the patients and promote their goals of becoming more independent and to regain their optimal health.

In February 2013 HAC met with members of Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) to discuss this addition at Riverdale Health Centre. The 30-by-50 (1,500 square feet) addition would be located at the east end of the centre. A capital budget estimate was presented with the total projected cost of $621,168; it was submitted as a capital expense to Manitoba Health for PMH. The submission included a letter of support for the addition from PMH, a recap of patients’ comments of the rehab stressing the lack of space and privacy, a rehab summary including discharge outcomes, length of stay and occupancy rates for the past three years. The submission also included that Rivers HAC would contribute $300,000 (approximately 50 per cent) towards the addition project.

On March 3, 2014 HAC was informed that PMH had received preliminary approval from Manitoba Health for the proposed addition. On Dec. 15, 2014 HAC met with PMH members Greg Paddock (care team manager), Brian Will (director of capital and infrastructure) and Ted Bartlett (project manager) to further discuss the proposed addition. An updated design and new estimated budget of $612, 966 was presented. The project was sent out for tender and multiple proposals were received by PMH by the Feb. 26 deadline. The chosen tender was forwarded and on Wednesday, April 15 Manitoba Health approved the tender of Horizon Builders of Brandon. Preliminary site preparations are scheduled for April 16.