Source: Communications NS

The province is adding 400 new hospital beds in the Halifax region in an effort to deal with an aging population and unprecedented population growth.

It involves building a new patient tower at the Halifax Infirmary site with four additional OR’s, a new emergency department and cancer centre.

“Our healthcare professionals deserve modern facilities that enable them to provide the best care for their patients. It’s important for their work and their mental health and well-being. If we are serious about recruiting more people to join them, we need to give them a workplace they want to be in,” said Premier Tim Houston. “This will be expensive. But this is about getting it right and saving time.”

The government also shared details of new builds and major expansions of existing facilities to better serve some of the fastest-growing areas in Halifax.

Other major elements of the government’s plan include:

— expanding Dartmouth General Hospital to include a new emergency department and more beds
— adding new in-patient services at the Cobequid Community Health Centre in Lower Sackville
— building two standalone transition-to-community centres in HRM, including one near the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre.

Houston avoided putting a price tag on the entire plan, as many projects will need to be put out to tender. However, it is safe to estimate it will come in at over $2 billion, which was the original estimate for hospital redevelopments introduced by the former Liberal government in 2016.

The premier told reporters the cost is not his main focus, and it should not be the first question, he says more people are concerned with better health care and access to the system.

“We are well past the starting point. The leases have already been signed for the land for new off-site builds in HRM. Considerable work has already been done on the design of the new patient tower,” said Premier Houston. “The work will proceed without delay and shovels will be in the ground much sooner than what would have been possible under the previous plan.”

Additionally, the government will work with the medical community and related community organizations to begin planning on the construction of:

— a new mental health and addictions campus
— a new Nova Scotia Rehabilitation and Arthritis Centre
— a new Heart Health Centre of Excellence.

“The new plan will advance many of the priorities, including the need to make smart investments to make healthcare more accessible and more responsive to the needs of Nova Scotians. It will also support our hard-working healthcare workers, who deserve cutting-edge facilities to support them in caring for patients.” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health.

The province will plan to move patients out of the Victoria General site prior to the completion of the new patient tower, as well as relocate lab services from the MacKenzie Building.