Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Redeveloped hospital comes with hefty bill

Nov 11, 2010 | 12:27 PM

Prince Albert Parkland Health Region board members have seen the proposed future of Victoria Hospital.
At the regular board meeting, Wednesday afternoon, HDR Architecture presented a 3-D model of the Victoria Hospital redevelopment
The proposal has the changes happening over four stages and wrapping up in 2025.
Dipesh Patel, vice-president of HDR and principle in charge of the Victoria Hospital redevelopment project, pointed to places on the model explaining the different aspects.
“When you look at it from the front, it almost seems like a brand new facility,” he said.
When all the phases are completed, it will have five entrances, a new patient tower and a heli-pad.
The reason for the redevelopment instead of starting from scratch has to do with keeping costs lower and not having the space to build new.
The board approved the phase one block plans and gave authorization to complete the design development stage.
“It’s really gratifying to see us moving ahead now. I think it puts a jump in our step and hope in our eyes, so I think it’s really great,” said John Piggott, vice president of operations with the region.
Included in the first phase is additional space for the emergency department and operating rooms.
“The first phase is going to have approximately 100,000 square feet of new development — about 90,000 (square feet) is going to be brand new and about 30,000 will be renovated,” Patel said.
The predicted cost of the first phase is $70 million.
Currently the proposed renovations and expansions fall under the Ministry of Health cost-sharing formula, which means the community would be responsible for 35 per cent of construction costs, said Cecile Hunt, health region CEO.
She added that discussing the community share was premature, until after the Ministry of Health approved the plans, but she also said the ministry understands that it is a significant expense for the people of this area.
While the ministry has made no commitment to redeveloping the hospital, Hunt said she is hopeful for their continued support.
“The fact that the last two budget years we’ve received money for planning and received money for the block design is a very positive signal. But, you know the province and the Ministry of Health has multiple priorities, but we are hopeful,” she said.
If the approvals are obtained, the first phase of the project could be ready for tender by the end of 2011 and seeing the first patient by late 2014, said Patel. The planning of the second phase will begin right after the first phase goes to tender, he said.
ahill@panow.com