New Health-care Infrastructure, Services Launched in Ste. Rose du Lac

September 8, 2010

Investments in Addictions, Emergency Services to Improve Access for Rural Manitobans: Selinger

STE. ROSE DU LAC—A new emergency medical services (EMS) facility, a hospital isolation room and more treatment options for people struggling with addictions were all announced for Ste. Rose du Lac and area residents here today by Premier Greg Selinger.“These three projects, providing important health services close to home, help to renew and strengthen health-care services in rural Manitoba,” said Selinger. “We have increased the provincial investment in addictions services by more than 90 per cent over the last 10 years. However, we recognize there is still more to do and which is why we’re here today.”

The premier announced $415,400 in funding for the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba’s Willard Monson House Residential Facility to facilitate the opening of seven additional residential adult-treatment beds. This facility currently operates 15 beds in a 21-day, adult-treatment program. The new beds will be open in the very near future and will result in at least 84 more Manitobans having access to addictions treatment every year, the premier said.

“We are pleased to offer an additional seven residential treatment beds in western Manitoba. This increase will address the current pressures on Willard Monson House and help ensure that treatment occurs in a timely manner,” said John Borody, CEO of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

Officials were also on hand for a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the start of construction of an $848,000 EMS facility that will include space for training, offices, equipment and ambulance parking. The new building will be very close to the hospital and will be heated and cooled with geothermal energy, the premier added. Construction is expected to be completed by late winter 2011.

“The important projects we’re talking about here today will help ensure quality and timely care for our residents,” said Kevin McKnight, Parkland Regional Health Authority CEO. “This is all part of ongoing strategic development of health infrastructure, services and programs within our geographically large region.”

The event also marked the official opening of a negative-pressure patient isolation room at the Ste. Rose General Hospital. This type of room is used to prevent the spread of air-borne infections so they cannot be transferred out of the room to other parts of the facility. The premier was joined by Health Minister Theresa Oswald, McKnight and Ste. Rose General Hospital chief operating officer Tony Fraser, for an official ribbon cutting to formally acknowledge the addition of this treatment capability in the Ste. Rose Hospital.

“These three great initiatives will further strengthen the role that Ste. Rose plays as a hub for health services,” added Selinger. “This is to the benefit all residents in this area of the province.”

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