With steel expected to arrive for the long-term care building now under construction later in the day, the provincial government announced the latest progress towards building the acute-care component of Corner Brook’s new regional hospital Thursday.
The latest news is the province has advanced to the next stage in the procurement process for the 164-bed acute care facility.
Following a request for qualifications issued in January, Atlantic Healthcare Partnership and Corner Brook Health Partnership will advance to the next stage of the procurement process and will shortly receive the request for proposals documents.
The successful proponent will be selected in the spring of 2019. Construction of the new hospital is scheduled to begin later next year and should be completed in 2023.
The acute care building will be around 50,000 square feet, which is the equivalent of combining the footprints of both the current Western Memorial Regional Hospital and Corner Brook Regional High School combined.
The announcement was made by Premier Dwight Ball during a press conference at the construction site overlooking the city and the scenic Bay of Islands and Blow-Me-Down Mountains.
Ball was accompanied by Health and Community Services Minister John Haggie, Western Health chief executive officer Cindy Davis and other provincial politicians.
Construction of the 145-bed long-term care home began last November with final concrete being poured for the foundation of the building in the coming days as crews prepare for the installation of structural steel. The first shipment of steel was expected to possibly arrive later Thursday.
The long-term care portion of the new complex will open in 2020.
Here is some of what was said at Thursday’s press conference and media tour of the site:
Premier Dwight Ball:
“This is not about just coming and cutting a ribbon and unveiling a sign. This is really about taking action in delivering health care services to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Health and Community Services Minister John Haggie:
“Buildings like this (long-term care home) will make a huge difference, and not just for the people that are in them. They are going to free up and open up the acute-care sector and the elective surgery beds we need to deal with our wait times. We are not there yet, but we are better than we were before.”
Cindy Davis, Western Health’s chief executive officer
“What a view. We have so many architects and planners that have been involved with us. Every time they come to this site, they talk about what a view. For residents of our long-term care facility, this is going to be the view they see every morning when they wake up and we’re pretty proud over that.”
