Construction continues on Riverdale Health Centre expansion
- Details
- Published on Friday, August 14, 2015
By Gary Pomeroy
Submitted article
On Feb. 10, 1960 Riverdale Hospital opened. It consisted of 18 beds, nursery, x-ray, laboratory, physician and dental offices, nurses quarters, laundry and kitchen facilities. The cost was approximately $220,000. Riverdale Personal Care home, consisting of 20 beds, opened on Oct. 16, 1981 at a construction cost of $718,000. Another addition was build in 1989 with the opening of Westwood Lodge at a cost of $828,800; it had 11 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit.
In November 2005, after many renovations at Riverdale Health Centre (originally Riverdale Hospital), Rivers Rehabilitation Unit was born. The project was part of the Wait List Reduction Strategy aimed to reduce wait times for patients requiring joint replacement/repair surgeries (hip and knees). The Rehab Unit has proven to be very successful, but is in desperate need of increased space. A 30- by 50-foot (1,500 square feet) addition is currently being built at the east end of Riverdale Health Centre. This addition will provide a new area for rehab patients for group dining, exercises and activities. All these actively support patients and promote the goals of becoming more independent and to regain their optimal health.
A capital budget estimate for the project is $621,168; Rivers Health Action Committee (HAC) will be contributing $300, 000. HAC has been fundraising for hospital upgrades since 2003; many individuals and organizations have contributed actual funds or made pledges to the addition. If you have made a pledge in the past and would like to honour that pledge, or make a new contribution to the project, it would be most appreciated. Donations may be mailed to Rivers HAC, Box 7, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0.
This rehab addition is projected to be completed this fall.
