Renovations underway at Dauphin Regional Health Centre

The Government of Manitoba says construction is underway at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre as part of renovations that would see nine new beds added to the facility.

Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the work is part of a facility-wide renovation project, which will also include more space to support cancer patients as they receive treatment and care.

“Our goal is for more rural Manitobans to hear those four amazing words: ‘you are cancer-free,'” said Kinew in a statement.

“This renovation will not only mean more space for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, it will add more endoscopy capacity, reduce surgery wait times and it will enhance the Dauphin Regional Health Centre to allow more patients from across the Parklands to access health care,” the premier added. “It’s one more step in our government’s commitment to improving health care in the Parklands.”

The province says the second phase of the renovations is expected to be completed in the summer.

“Making sure that families navigating a cancer diagnosis and patients who need surgeries can get quality care, close to home, is a priority for our government,” said Asagwara.

“We have also been hearing from health-care staff how distressing it can be to want to provide the best care possible, but to not have the resources to do so. These investments will provide front-line staff in Dauphin the exam rooms, recovery beds, and surgical capacity they need to deliver the level of care patients expect and deserve.”

Kinew noted spaces on the second and third floor will be converted to accommodate seven new medicine and two new general surgery beds.

Renovations to the first floor will allow the expansion of CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB), as it will be 50 per cent larger than the existing space. It will also add a new exam room, and relocate five treatment spaces.

In addition, the hospital’s endoscopy services will also move to the main floor. The move will add a new procedure room and six pre-/post-recovery spaces, which the province states will allow up to 300 more endoscopies to be performed over the year.

“With the relocation of the cancer care unit to the hospital’s main floor and soon, operational start of the new endoscopy suite, we continue enhancing access to services within our region,” said Brian Schoonbaert, chief executive officer with Prairie Mountain Health.

“As the second phase of the project proceeds, which includes adding additional in-patient bed capacity and a new physiotherapy space, we are ensuring Dauphin Regional Health Centre continues to play a vital role in the provision of patient and client care moving forward.”

Minister Asagwara added the province will continue to roll out investments aimed at stabilizing the health care system.