By Stephanie Froese

New funding formula moves Tisdale health project forward

Mar 4, 2011 | 6:04 AM

The Northeast Health Initiative has taken some major strides towards a two-part project that would see a HealthPlex and a long-term care facility built in Tisdale.

On the long-term care side of the project, a lobby effort has been successful in changing the cost sharing formula to something more affordable for the community.

Originally the community had to come up with 35 per cent of the project’s funds.

This share was reduced to 20 per cent with an announcement from the provincial government that they would be increasing the Ministry of Health portion to 80 per cent, said Betty Bauhuis, co-chair for the Northeast Health Initiative.

“That is just excellent news for us and the savings. We don’t have to come up with about $2 million, which is a very big number.”

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“With the progress they are actually not too far off from seeing the project become a reality, especially for the long-term care portion, Bauhuis said.

The new funding formula could mean they could see a shovel in the ground this spring.

The HealthPlex part of the project is a place for physicians to be housed in a community clinic, as well as dentists, optometrists and other health professionals.

The space requirements for each of the professionals have been finalized and signed off by those requiring the space. Bauhuis said that is another big step forward for the health initiative.

She said they’re also “optimistically awaiting a positive response from a grant application that was submitted to a fund called the enabling accessibility fund.”

The project could receive up to $3 million from the grant.

Bauhuis said they hope to find out if they’re approved within the next couple of months. With a positive response she said they would see the HealthPlex portion realized quickly.

Even with changes in contribution percentages and the possibility of a grant Bauhuis said they still need to run more fundraisers. The Tisdale Kinsmen have announced their support for the Northeast Health Initiative by using finances raised from their annul steak and lobster night.

The next fundraiser is slated for May 6.

Bauhuis said they are now looking to the community to make a dent in their $4.5 million target for both projects. The projects are also, in part, funded by taxes in the community and surrounding rural municipality.

sfroese@panow.com